Man killed in shoot-out along Sinai border

JERUSALEM, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A man was killed Tuesday in an early morning shootout with Israeli soldiers patrolling the Sinai border, Israeli officials said.

He was spotted with a group of about 15 people during a routine patrol along the Sinai border and failed to heed warnings to stop, military officials said. The soldiers began firing at the suspects and a shootout ensued. The rest of the group fled back over the border, leaving the wounded man behind. He was declared dead by an Israeli medical crew, Haaretz reported.

Israel said it is heightening patrols after an increase in attempts to infiltrate Israel's southwestern border. Last week, Israeli soldiers said they intercepted an attempt to smuggle an explosive device into the country from Egypt through the Sinai border.