Egypt arrests 9 militants linked to Sinai attacks

Egyptian troops capture nine militants suspected of killing 16 Egyptian soldiers

An Egyptian security official says troops have arrested nine Islamic militants in northern Sinai, believed to be behind a deadly attack that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers last weekend.

 

The official told Associated Press that early Friday the troops stormed a house in Sheik Zweid, close to Rafah border crossing with Gaza Strip, and caught the nine while they were asleep.

 

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Among them was Selmi Zeyoud, whom the official described as a "dangerous element" and a brother to a slain jihadist. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

 

Egypt's President Morsi in Sinai after attack (Photo: AFP)

 

The arrests are the first since Sunday's surprise attack in which armed terrorists from Sinai breached Israel's border in an armored personnel carrier they seized during a raid on an Egyptian border checkpoint as the border guards broke their daily fast for the holy month of Ramadan with a sunset meal.

 

After the gunmen stormed the checkpoint, they killed 16 Egyptian soldiers, then drove into Israel.

 

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