Six Egyptian military conscripts were killed by unknown gunmen early Saturday near a military police checkpoint in Qalyoubia's Shubra El-Kheima district. Mohamed Yosri, security director of the Qalyoubia governorate, said that explosives experts have managed to diffuse two bombs planted by the attackers after the shooting occurred. Military spokesman Ahmed Ali accused members of the Muslim Brotherhood group of being behind the attack. Ali added that the conscripts were killed soon after they performed dawn prayers. A military source told Al-Ahram Arabic news website, that four of the slain soldiers came from Upper Egypt's Sohag governorate, one from Menoufiya and and another from Beni Seuf. All roads to the leading to the site of the incident have been closed. Attacks on security and army forces have been intensifying since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, leaving dozens killed. While militant attacks, explosions and drive-by shootings first broke out in the restive Sinai Peninsula, in late 2013 violence spread among different governorates, including the capital. In response, the army and police launched a crackdown on militants leaving hundreds reported dead. Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, a militant group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibilty for most attacks on the police and army. Egypt's authorities have continued to hold the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Morsi was a leading member, responsible for orchestrating the attacks. In December, Egypt's interim authorities declared the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, a decision that was upheld by a court order in February. Source : Ahram online
