Security forces in the Sinai peninsula killed the leader of Egypt´s deadliest militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, along with three senior members overnight, officials said early Friday.
Several high-ranking security officials confirmed the death of Shadi el-Menei, considered to be the head of the Sinai-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem), an Al-Qaeda inspired militant group that has spearheaded a wave of attacks targeting security forces since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July.
Such attacks have been carried out in retaliation to a state crackdown on Morsi supporters that has left more than 1,400 killed and at least 15,000 jailed since the Islamist´s overthrow.
Security forces opened fire on the four men as they were in a car in central Sinai, the officials said.
The group was about to carry out an attack on a gas pipeline, they added.
