Two killed, 36 injured in 2 separate attacks in Egypt

CAIRO: At least two persons, including a police officer, were killed and 36 others were injured today in two separate bomb attacks targetting security forces in Egypt's volatile North Sinai.

Both the incidents took place in North Sinai's Al-Arish city.

The first attack killed at least one civilian and injured 33 others including conscripts and two civilians when a bomber rammed an explosives riden vehicle into a security forces base.

"The bomber drove a water tanker full of explosives into the rear gate of the base, as the vehicle approached, police fired on it, detonating the explosives inside and killing it's driver and a civilian," a security official said.

Thirty-one conscripts and two civilians were injured who were then transferred to the Al-Arish military hospital, a security official said.

Meanwhile, in another incident, an army officer was killed and three conscripts were injured after a bomb exploded targeting a security checkpoint in North of Al-Arish city, a security official said.

Egypt's Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Over 500 security personnel have been reported killed since then.

At least 32 soldiers were killed and dozens others were injured in simultaneous attacks that hit Al-Arish City in North Sinai in January.

The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.