Smugglers kill Egyptian policeman near border with Israel

Cairo: Smugglers killed an Egyptian policeman in northern Sinai near the border with Israel as he foiled a cross-border smuggling attempt, Egypt’s Interior Ministry said on Friday.

The shooting took place late on Thursday, according to a statement from the ministry. The policeman was identified as Rabie Mustafa. Police have cordoned off the area and are searching for the perpetrators, the ministry added.

The statement did not provide further details.

Northern Sinai has been largely closed off to the media since Egypt’s security forces launched a campaign against a long-running insurgency there. The insurgency escalated after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammad Mursi in July 2013 amid massive protests against his rule and cracked down on Islamist groups.