Egypt: Islamic State (IS) claims attack near St. Catherine monastery
Attack on a police checkpoint near one of the world’s most important Christian sites kills one police officer, injures four others • Attack comes 10 days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt • Monastery is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack on a police checkpoint just outside St. Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt’s southern Sinai, the group’s Amaq news agency said Tuesday.
The attack, which killed one police officer and injured four others, took place at a police checkpoint about 800 meters (2,600 feet) from the entrance to the monastery, one of the world’s most important Christian sites.
The attack came just over a week after two church bombings in Egypt that killed 45 people and were also claimed by Islamic State, and some 10 days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt.