Islamic State militants on Tuesday attacked the Swiss Inn Resort in El Arish in the northern Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, killing at least seven people, including a judge who was monitoring Egypt’s parliamentary elections, according to multiple reports.
The New York Times reported that a suicide attacker driving an explosive-packed car and a gunman were able to penetrate the hotel despite the heavy security measures. The military said that when security forces fired on a militant driving an explosive-laden vehicle outside the hotel, the car exploded. At the same time, another militant entered the hotel, killing the judge and then detonating an explosive belt.
Egypt’s Islamic State affiliate, known as the Sinai Province, claimed responsibility, saying it was retaliating to the government’s imprisonment of women. This is the same group that last month claimed responsibility for downing a Russian plane carrying tourists from Sharm el Sheikh.
The latest attack occurred despite the deployment of thousands of police officers and soldiers to protect the parliamentary election.