CAIRO — Egypt launched a major shakeup of its security services on Saturday in an apparent reaction to an ambush by militants outside Cairo last week that killed at least 16 police troopers. Authorities consider the area an infiltration path for smugglers and militants, and have blamed some past attacks on extremists transiting through. The attack a week ago that seemingly prompted the leadership shakeup appeared to be a carefully planned ambush that trapped many counter terrorism officers as well, including two police brigadier-generals. They added that the force likely ran out of ammunition and that the militants captured several policemen and later killed them. Attacks by militants significantly increased since the army’s 2013 ouster of an elected but divisive Islamist president.

Source: National Post October 28, 2017 17:35 UTC