Seven killed in North Sinai militant attacks on hotel hosting judges
Judge, prosecutor, four security personnel and one civilian die in attacks
launched in North Sinai by ISIS-affiliated militant group Ansar Beit
Al-Maqdis
Ahram Online , Tuesday 24 Nov 2015
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/171560/Egypt/Politics-/UPDATE--Seven-killed-in-North-Sinai-militant-attac.aspx

Seven people -- a judge, a prosecutor, four security personnel and a
civilian -- were killed on Tuesday and eight were injured in North Sinai's
restive city of Al-Arish in attacks on a hotel where judges supervising the
ongoing parliamentary polls were residing.

The ISIS-affiliated militant group in North Sinai, Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis,
claimed responsibility for the attacks. The same group said earlier it had
brought down the Russian airliner that killed all 224 on board over Sinai
last month.

A suicide bomber was driving a car bomb into the hotel when security forces
opened fire on him, causing the car to explode away from the Swiss Inn Hotel
and the bomber to die, the military said in a statement.

Another attacker wearing an explosive belt later snuck into the hotel's
kitchen and blew himself up, while a gunman went up to one of the hotel
rooms and opened fire, killing a judge.

"One judge, Amr Hammad was among those killed and two civilians are among
the injured. They were treated in Al-Arish public hospital," said Khaled
Megahed, the health ministry spokesperson.

Speaking to Ontv later in the day, Megahed confirmed that the death toll has
risen to seven, including three police soldiers, one police conscript and an
electrician.

Two of the eight injured are in a critical condition, Megahed added,
including a judge who underwent surgery.

The Egyptian justice ministry announced prosecutor Amr Mostafa is among
those who were killed. The army statement said the attacks confirmed at
least two police conscripts and injured other security forces, before the
death toll rose.

"This brutal incident is a failed, desperate attempt to hinder the state,"
said army spokesman Mohamed Samir in the statement. "We emphasise that [this
incident] will strengthen the persistence and determination of police and
the armed forces to root out terrorism in North Sinai."

Ambulances rushed to the scene and gunshots could be heard following the
explosion. A main coastal highway in the city has been shut down following
the attack.

In a statement circulated by its supporters on Twitter, Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis
said the attack was to avenge the imprisonment of female Muslims by the
"apostate" Egyptian army.

"A brother... hit with his car bomb a security force guarding the Swiss
[Inn] Hotel where 50 judges were staying only to be followed by a lion who
broke into the judges' headquarters with his automatic weapon ... then blew
up his explosive belt among them," read the statement.

For years, Egypt has been fighting in North Sinai an Islamist militant
insurgency, which spiked in 2013 following Islamist president Mohamed
Morsi's ouster.

Over the past two years, Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for a
number of attacks, some of which targeted judges in Al-Arish.

Islamist militants, who have primarily targeted security forces since the
removal of Morsi, have in recent months targeted several judges amid the
conviction of many Morsi supporters in terror-related cases.

"The judges pledge to God and country to continue giving [to the people],
and continue their efforts… [to uphold justice]," read a statement released
by the justice ministry after the attacks. "They will not rest until... the
criminal terrorists get just retribution."

Justice Minister Ahmed El-Zend announced that a compensation of LE1 million
(about $127,000) will be paid to each of the families of the slain judge and
prosecutor, the last two victims of militancy from the judiciary.

Last June, Egypt's top prosecutor Hisham Barakat died from injuries
sustained in a Cairo bomb attack.

In March, a small bomb was left in front of the house of judge Fathi
Bayoumi, who investigated the corruption charges against Mubarak-era
interior minister Habib El-Adly. The words "a gift for El-Adly's acquittal"
were scribbled on a wall near the attack.

Two months earlier, a bomb attack targeting judge Khaled Mahgoub, who is
representing the general prosecution in Morsi's jailbreak trial, caused
damage to the windows and walls of his house.

The parliamentary elections, the second stage of which took place Sunday and
Monday, were not marred by violence the past weeks. Judges are currently
supervising the counting of the votes.

Run-offs are due on December 1 and 2.