Suspected militants on Monday ambushed a police convoy in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

:: Suspected militants on Monday ambushed a police convoy in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 18 policemen, including a police brigadier-general, according to security and military officials.

The police and military officials said the attack began with the detonation of roadside bombs that destroyed and set ablaze three armored vehicles and a fourth one carrying signal jamming equipment.

The gunmen later opened fire with machine guns and commandeered a police pickup truck.

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

Three gunmen killed in Arish terrorist attack

A security source at the North Sinai Security Directorate announced that police forces managed to kill three attackers before fleeing the scene.

The terrorist group planted four explosive devices on the road coming from Bir al-Abd area towards Al-Arish, according to the Egyptian news site dostor.org.

ISIS claims responsibility

A local ISIS group affiliate based in North Sinai claimed responsibilty for the attack, reported Al Arabiya.

While based in North Sinai, the ISIS affiliate in Egypt has carried out attacks elsewhere including in the capital Cairo, and killed more than 100 Coptic Christians since December.

Saudi Arabia condemns attack

Saudi Arabia condemned the terrorist attack in Sinai and expressed solidarity with Egypt in its fight against terrorism.