Policeman Killed As Bomb Hits Camp In Egypt’s Ismailiyah

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At least one policeman has been killed and dozens others injured, including six civilians, when a bomb exploded near the entrance of a security forces camp in the northern Egyptian city of Ismailiyah on Thursday night, according to security sources.

The bomb was planted on the gates of the camp and demoted from far, sources told Al Jazeera.

The bombing was followed by gunshots, officials said, adding that several ambulances were rushed to the site of the attack.

Most of those injured were policemen, the source said.

Ismailiyah and surrounding areas in the Sinai have seen regular attacks on police and military personnel, especially since the military toppled elected president Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

The military has been conducting an extensive operation in the Sinai Peninsula, east of the Suez Canal, to crack down on armed groups.

Earlier on Thursday, riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of pro-Islamist protesters who were demonstrating near the headquarters of the ministry of defence in Cairo.

Egypt has been witnessing almost daily protests by supporters of Morsi since the army removed him.

Morsi’s removal opened the bloodiest chapter in Egypt’s modern history. Security forces have since killed hundreds of his supporters, while some 200 soldiers and policemen have died, many in attacks by armed groups in the Sinai peninsula, bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza strip.

Students supporting Morsi have been staging daily protests for months inside and outside their universities.

Last month, Egypt’s army-installed interim government issued a law that banned protests near or originating from places of worship, and made it compulsory to seek Interior Ministry permission to hold a demonstration.

Since the law was passed, hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood protesters and other liberal activists have been arrested for demonstrating without police permission. [AlJazeera]