IS claims deadly attack in Egypt's Sinai: Propaganda arm

The Islamic State group claimed an attack that killed eight Egyptian policemen in the restive Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday, as the country marked the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

"Islamic State fighters this morning launched two simultaneous attacks on two police checkpoints in the city of El-Arish," said a statement released by the jihadist group's propaganda wing, Amaq.

It claimed that 10 policemen were killed in the two attacks; one on a checkpoint south of El-Arish and another on a second checkpoint in a "nearby area".

It said the twin operation was designed to "divide" the attention of security forces and give militants enough time to pull back before reinforcements arrived.

The country's interior ministry said 8 Egyptian policeman were killed in an attack on the northeastern region, a hotbed of a years-long insurgency by militants, some linked to IS.

Egyptian state television said there were fears the death toll could rise, amid reports of attacks on multiple ...