US, European and Arab countries condemn deadly attack on Egypt police in North Sinai

Ahram Online , Monday 11 Sep 2017

Army vehicle in North Sinai (AP)
Army vehicle in North Sinai (AP)

Several European, the US, and Arab countries have condemned a terrorist attack on a police convoy in Egypt’s North Sinai on Monday morning that reportedly killed and injured more than a dozen Egyptian police forces.

In an official statement, the US embassy in Cairo expressed its deep condolences for those killed and injured by “this cowardly act of terrorism.”

''The United States stands firmly with Egypt after this horrific attack. We send our sincere condolences to the families of those killed and wish a speedy recovery for those injured,'' the statement read.

The German embassy released a statement denouncing the attack, which it described as "brutal and treacherous."

"There is nothing that justifies such terrorist acts. Germany stands along with Egypt in its efforts in combating terrorism," the statement read.

The UK also denounced the attack.

"The UK condemns the terrorist attack in Al-Arish. I am sure that the world will defeat such terrorism and the poisonous thoughts that supply it," UK envoy to Egypt Ambassador John Casson posted on Twitter hours after the attack.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), a source in the Saudi foreign ministry denounced the attack, stressing Saudi Arabia’s stance in "supporting our friend Egypt against terrorism and extremism."

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported that Kuwait's emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jabar Al-Sabah had expressed his sincere condolences to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

"He [Sheikh Al-Sabah] expressed Kuwait's strong condemnation and denouncement of such a heinous terrorist action that targeted innocent lives and Egypt's safety and stability," KUNA reported.

On Monday, the Egyptian interior ministry said an attack was launched by militants on a police convoy near Arish in North Sinai, killing a number of policemen.

According to anonymous security sources quoted by Al-Ahram, militants remotely detonated an IED that destroyed three armoured security vehicles and a vehicle jamming system in a convoy 17km away from Arish.

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