Body of Egyptian nurse found cut in half in North Sinai town

The body of an Egyptian nurse was found cut in half in Egypt's Northern Sinai on Tuesday, according to residents.

The lower half of Ahmed Al-Kiki's body was found thrown in a pile of garbage in the Sinai city of Al-Arish, local sources told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

His upper half was found later in the city’s Zohour neighbourhood, some distance from the first location.

It is not clear when he was murdered but locals say that no similar crimes have been witnessed in the area.

The male nurse was from the town of Sheikh Zuweid and belonged to the Al-Sawarka tribe, the sources said. He had been working at Al-Arish General Hospital.

Sources confirmed that security and forensic teams began an investigation into the gruesome killing.An Arabic hashtag started on Twitter calling for perpetrators to be caught and brought to justice.

Egyptian air force planes launched strikes on Sunday morning on the province of north Sinai in the east of Egypt, eyewitnesses and tribal leaders told The New Arab's Arabic language service.https://t.co/zefiJDCG6P

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) November 29, 2021

Egypt's Sinai Peninsula - particularly its north - has been rattled by years of violence as the Egyptian military and security forces battle Islamic State group-affiliated militants.

The conflict intensified after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi took power in 2013, followed by the formation of the Wilayat Sinai ("Sinai State") group a year later.

Sheikh Zuweid, Al-Kiki's hometown, is part of the area that has been heavily affected by the fighting. Residents have gradually begun to return after being forcefully evicted.