Death toll from Egypt gun battle rises to 52 killed

CAIRO – At least 52 Egyptian police and conscripts were killed and six more wounded in a gun battle on Friday during a raid on a suspected militant hideout in the western desert, three security sources said on Saturday.

Sources had said late on Friday at least 30 police were killed. Egypt is battling an Islamist insurgency concentrated in the Sinai Peninsula from two main groups, including an Islamic State affiliate that has killed hundreds of security forces since 2013.