Suicide bomber kills 11 off-duty Egyptian soldiers in troubled northern Sinai
Car bomber rams vehicle into one of two buses carrying soldiers back to Cairo, injuring 37
A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into one of two buses carrying off-duty soldiers in Egypt's turbulent region of northern Sinai yesterday, killing 11 and wounding 37, security and military officials said.
They said the suicide bomber struck when the two buses travelled on the road between the border town of Rafah and the coastal city of el-Arish. The explosion damaged both buses, the officials said.
The soldiers belong to the 2nd Field Army, which is doing most of the fighting against Islamic militants waging an insurgency against security forces in Sinai. The buses were on their way to Cairo, the officials said.
The precious blood of our sons strengthens our resolve to cleanse Egypt
Colonel Mohammed Ahmed Ali, a military spokesman, said the wounded were being treated in military hospitals.
"The precious blood of our sons strengthens our resolve to cleanse Egypt and shield its sons from violence and treacherous terrorism," Ali wrote on his Facebook page.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for yesterday's attack, but suicide car bombings are a signature method by militant groups linked to or inspired by al-Qaeda.
Interim President Adly Mansour denounced the latest Sinai bombing as "a terrorist attack", while the military said it was chasing the perpetrators who fled towards the town of Sheikh Zuwayed.
