Militants in Egypt kill at least 2 in attack targeting security checkpoint Sinai Peninsula

CAIRO – An Egyptian security official says militants have attacked a security checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least two people.

The official says the gunmen stormed the post in an area called Sadr Haitan in central Sinai early Wednesday. He says six people were wounded in the attack. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the press.

Sinai has witnessed a series of daily attacks on police and army posts since Egypt's military deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last week.

Islamic extremists and former jihadists have threatened to escalate attacks in retaliation for Morsi's ouster.

Officials said earlier that a total of five policemen killed by militants in shootings around the Sinai city of el-Arish in the past week.