Judge, two policemen killed in Egypt's Al-Arish hotel attack

CAIRO, Nov 24 (KUNA) -- A judge, two police conscripts and three militants were killed in an attack that targeted a hotel in Al-Arish, provincial capital of North Sinai, Egypt, the Army said on Tuesday.
Twelve others, including military and police personnel and civilians, were wounded in the attack by a car bomb and an explosive belt, Military Spokesman Brigadier Mohamed Samir said in a statement.
The hotel was housing judges overseeing the two-day second phase of Egypt's parliamentary elections, which ended Monday evening.
The police and military forces outside the hotel had reacted swiftly to stop the car bomb approaching the hotel, but it exploded, the spokesman said.
In the meantime, a militant managed to make his way into the hotel kitchen where he detonated his explosive belt. A third one was able to creep into a hotel room where he opened fire randomly, to kill a judge.
The three militants were killed in the "terrorist" attack, Brigadier Samir said.
He described the attack as a failure and desperate attempt to hinder the completion of building the state institutions. (end) rg.msa