Gunmen on Wednesday opened fire on the car of a senior military commander in Egypt's restive Sinai peninsula, the army spokesman said, a day after two people died in an attack by militants on a security checkpoint.

The car of the second field army chief "came under heavy fire, which led to clashes between security forces and the terrorist elements," the spokesman said in a statement.

The second army chief Ahmed Wasfy was inspecting the Sheikh Zwayed area in northern Sinai when the attack on his car took place, reported Ahram Arabic website.

Security forces were able to seize the car from which militants were shooting and its driver has been arrested, although the other assailants escaped. A young girl was caught in the line of fire and died from her injuries in an Al-Arish hospital.

Tensions have been on the rise in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, already troubled by Islamist militant activity, since president Mohamed Morsi was ousted on 3 July.

On Sunday, an Egyptian border guard was killed and a police officer shot in two separate incidents.

At least six policemen were killed on Friday in separate attacks by unknown gunmen in Al-Arish.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/76220.aspx