Militants attack convoy in Egypt's Sinai, kill 18 police

EL-ARISH, Egypt – Egyptian officials say the death toll from an attack on a police convoy in the Sinai Peninsula has risen to 18, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the restive area in months.

The police and military officials say Monday's attack began with the detonation of roadside bombs that destroyed and set ablaze four armored vehicles and a fifth one carrying signal jamming equipment. The gunmen later opened fire with machine guns and commandeered a police pickup truck.

Among those killed were two police lieutenants. The wounded included a police brigadier general.

The attack took place about 30 kilometers west of el-Arish in northern Sinai, the epicenter of a long-running insurgency now led by the extremist Islamic State group.