ISIS claims responsibility for bombing in Egypt’s Sinai

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) Egyptian branch claimed responsibility for a bombing that killed four people in a hotel in North Sinai capital al-Arish on Tuesday where judges overseeing a parliamentary election were staying.

The statement by the Sinai Province group was circulated by its supporters on Twitter and the encrypted messaging system Telegram.

“A brother ... seeking martyrdom hit with his car bomb the security force protecting the Swiss (Inn) hotel were 50 judges were staying only to be followed by a lion ... who broke into the judges’ base with his automatic weapon ... then blew up his explosive belt among them,” read the statement.

The blasts in the provincial capital of al-Arish came a day after the second round of a parliamentary election closed. Egyptian state television also reported the incident.

A suicide bomber tried to drive a car bomb into the hotel before security forces opened fire on him, causing the car to explode, security sources said. At least two judges were among the injured, authorities added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

ISIS’s Egypt affiliate, Sinai Province, has carried out similar attacks in the region as part of its bid to topple the Cairo government.

State television and security sources first said a car bomb exploded then a second blast hit the area about ten minutes later.

Ambulances rushed to the scene, which was sealed off by soldiers and police, said the security sources.