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Islamist militants suspected in Sinai bombing that killed at least 25

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Suspected Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula on Friday staged the deadliest attack of the year in the volatile desert region, killing at least 25 people at a military checkpoint, Egyptian state television said.

Those killed in what appeared to be a multi-pronged assault were believed to be primarily police and military conscripts, though it is common for civilian motorists and others to be caught up in such strikes when they occur on or near major roadways. If the casualty figures are borne out, it would be one of the most lethal attacks in many years.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but a senior security official said it bore the hallmarks of previous strikes by Islamist fighters operating in the area.

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The Sinai has been the main venue for confrontation between Egypt’s authoritarian-minded government and Islamist groups operating in the peninsula – a conflict that echoes larger regional battles between Western-allied groups and hard-line militias.

Friday’s strike took place near Sheik Zuwaid, a frequent site of attacks carried out by Islamist militants against Egyptian security forces in the northern Sinai. The two sides have been fighting each other for months.

Egypt’s government has accused the previous administration, under Islamist President Mohamed Morsi of allowing militant organizations to take root and flourish in the Sinai. Morsi was deposed in a coup 15 months ago.

During a string of attacks – some targeting military and official targets – the Morsi-allied Muslim Brotherhood has insisted that it is nonviolent.

Initial figures reported by other Arab media put Friday’s death toll somewhat lower, at 17. Egypt’s military did not immediately comment on the attack.

State television reported that President Abdel Fattah Sisi, a former defense chief, would preside over an urgent meeting of security officials to discuss the attack and other unrest.

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Hassan is a special correspondent.

Follow @laurakingLAT on Twitter for news out of Egypt.

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