Egypt’s interior minister appointed a new head of security in North Sinai on Saturday, two days after a terrorist attack in the area killed five police personnel.

Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar appointed Sayed El-Habal as the new head the governorate's security directorate, replacing Ali Abou Zeid.

Abou Zeid will occupy the position of deputy to the assistant minister for Sinai affairs.

No reason was given for the replacement. However, the decision comes two days after gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint in North Sinai's local capital, Al-Arish, killing three officers and two lower-ranking police personnel.

The attack also left three policemen injured.

Islamist militants based in North Sinai have killed hundreds of police and military troops in the last few years. Authorities have also reported that hundreds of militants have been killed in army campaigns in the governorate.



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