A brigadier general was killed and a colonel injured in an explosion targeting a security campaign in the area surrounding a police station in Al-Arish, according to a statement from the interior ministry.

The explosive device went off as security officers were passing by it.

Last Friday, an injured officer was abducted and killed as he was being transferred to the hospital.

Egypt has been witnessing a heightened insurgency over the past two years. Islamist militants mainly target security personnel and facilities, particularly those located in North Sinai.

“State of Sinai”, formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, is the main group operating in the peninsula.

The armed group posted a statement earlier this week claiming the killing of at least 12 security personnel through the bombing of military vehicles and shelling a checkpoint in Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid.

A curfew has been imposed for more than six months in the area to limit insurgency. However many of the militant operations take place during curfew hours.