Five alleged extremists were killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with the security forces in a remote area close to Al-Arish city in North Sinai governorate, according to a statement from the ministry of interior. The statement said that the five men were linked to terrorist groups. They were planning on committing terror operations in Egypt, as well as carrying out attacks on several vital institutions and important public figures. According to the statement, the ministry of interior has received information about the five militants hiding in Al-Arish city. When the security forces approached the hideout, the militants shot gunfire at the forces, resulting in an exchange of fire between the two sides which left the five militants killed. Three automatic rifles, an automatic shotgun, an explosive belt, and a bomb were found with the militants. Since the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, Egypt has been combatting several armed groups, mainly concentrated in the Sinai Peninsula. Ever since, attacks which target police, army officers, and state officials have almost become weekly occurrences in Egypt.
