In a telephone interview on the TV talk show Kul Youm (Every Day) broadcast by
ONTV satellite channel, President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi on the evening of Monday 9
January talked to the Egyptian journalist and host Amr Adib about the terrorist
attack that took place in the Sinai town of al-Arish that morning. The attack, which
was not claimed by any one or group, is typical of those carried out by Islamist
group terrorists, be that Daesh or other similar or affiliated groups.
A suicide bomber had rammed a garbage truck loaded with explosives into an
Egyptian security checkpoint outside a police building in Arish on Monday 9
January 2017, killing at least 10 and wounding 22. The attack was followed by
several small explosions as militants wearing black masks fired rocket-propelled
grenades at troops guarding the checkpoint. A similar attack on a security
checkpoint in northern Sinai last November claimed the lives of 15 soldiers.
“Egypt has so far managed to confront terrorism,” President Sisi said, noting that
the rate of attacks has recently subsided. “We understand very well that battling
terrorism costs us not only money,” he said, “but also huge costs in lives. We are
losing souls. And Egypt stands alone in its fight against terrorism, since it has
chosen to go against the [Islamist] tide that has been taking over the region.”
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“Is the media helping to make the public aware of this fierce confrontation?” the
President wondered. “Sadly, our intellectual and educated elite think that our call
for unifying efforts against terrorism is meant as justification for other [more
sombre] goals.” It is painful that some Egyptians remain so remote from the
challenges the country faces, he said.
Watani International
10 January 2017