5 policemen killed in attacks by militants

The Egyptian Interior Ministry have announced that five policemen were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in the north of the country's restive Sinai Pennisula.

This is the latest in a series of attacks by Jihadist militants on security personnel since former President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown in 2013. The government has responded to attacks with air strikes and ground operations.

 Three conscripts were also also wounded when gunmen opened fire at the checkpoint in the town of El-Arish.

In December, suicide bombers blew themselves up at a hotel near El-Arish, killing two judges monitoring the parliamentary elections.