At least 95 killed in wave of coordinated attacks in Egypt

CAIRO, July 1 (UPI) -- At least 95 people have been killed in a coordinated wave of five attacks on Egyptian military checkpoints by apparent Islamist militants across the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday.

A military statement said that more than 70 gunmen attacked checkpoints in Sheikh Zuweid, northeast Sinai. More than 20 gunmen were killed and three pickup trucks armed with anti-aircraft weaponry were destroyed.

Reports indicate the attacks began soon after Egyptian's start of Ramadan fasting, marked by gunfire and large explosions, apparently militant mortar fire. A massive suicide truck bomb explosion was reported at about 9:30 a.m.

State-run media, quoting security officials, said 60 Egyptian soldiers had been killed, as well as 35 militants.

The attacks took place two days after Hisham Barakat, Egypt's public prosecutor, was killed in a car bomb attack in Cairo.

No group has claimed responsibility, but the Sinai Province, an Islamic State affiliate, frequently carries out attacks including suicide bombings, assassinations and beheadings. Most attacks occur in the Sinai Peninsula, followed by attacks on Greater Cairo. The group claimed responsibility for an attack in the peninsula that killed about 30 people in January.

Sinai Province claimed 15 separate clashes occurred Wednesday with Egyptian security forces across Sinai, including three suicide attacks

A state of emergency has been in effect in northern Sinai since October. At least 600 Egyptian security personnel have been killed in attacks claimed by militant Islamist groups based in the Sinai Peninsula since the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.