CAIRO, Nov 13: The “terrorist” attack on an Egyptian naval patrol, near one of the country’s Mediterranean port, has left five servicemen injured and eight others missing, a military spokesperson today said.
He added that the four speedboats used by terrorists were destroyed and 32 of suspected militants were arrested.
Describing the yesterday’s attack as a “terrorist attack”, spokesperson Mohamed Samir in a statement early today said the attack has left “five servicemen injured and eight others missing at sea”.
An earlier report by the Egyptian TV said that unknown gunmen on the speedboats opened fire on a naval patrol unit when they were undertaking an exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, 400 miles north of Damietta Harbor.
A fire broke out on the naval unit’s boat as a result of the firefight.
Egyptian Forces were immediately deployed at the site to rescue the naval unit.
The forces destroyed the four speedboats and arrested 32 attackers, Samir said.
“Search and rescue operations have transferred five wounded servicemen to a military hospital and there are still eight personnel missing and the search continues,” the statement said.
Egyptian troops increasingly have come under attack from militants since the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last year.
Though it was reportedly the first attack at sea. Over 500 security personnel have been reportedly killed in attacks by militants. (PTI)
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