Updated: Leading member of militant group killed in Sinai

CAIRO - 18 July 2017: A leading member at the Sinai-based militant group of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) was killed Tuesday in a fire exchange with the police in North Sinai, said a statement by the Ministry of Interior.

The statement added that a number of militant groups hid inside an under-construction house in Arish City, where they planned their terrorist operations launched against military and police forces.

Security forces obtained information about presence of some senior militants at al-Eshreen Street in Arish where they have planned for terrorist operations, the statement read.

During the fire exchange, a leading member of ABM Ahmed Hassan, who was known as Ghandar al-Masry was killed. The 32-year-old terrorist was working as a teacher in North Sinai.

The statement stated that the security forces seized an automatic gun machine and many bullets. Ghandar was one of the senior Takfiri leaders in North Sinai, involved in many terrorist attacks, and in charge of recruiting new terrorist elements, the statement said.