In a dramatic turn of events, the five gunmen involved in the attack were reported killed hours later near the Israeli border, an Israeli army spokesman said.
"The bodies of the five gunmen have been found by the Israeli army," the spokesman said without giving any details.
Earlier
Egyptian security sources said the five gunmen dressed up in Bedouin
attire drove up to a border checkpoint between Egypt and the West Bank
and opened indiscriminate fire, killing 16 border guards.
According to a news agency described the attackers as 'jihadists' from the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip.
Eyewitnesses
said the attack came as the soldiers at the checkpoint were breaking
their Ramadan fast. They said the soldiers were caught totally off guard
and had no chance to retaliate.
President
Mursi held an emergency meeting with military and intelligence
officials and later in a televised address vowed to retake control of
the Sinai.
"The security forces will take full control of the area," Mursi said.
Hundreds of Islamists were released under a general amnesty just two weeks ago in a first major decision by the new President.
Mursi
has also expressed rapprochement with Hamas hosting the premier of the
deposed government in the West Bank Ismail Haniyah, exporting diesel
fuel to Gaza and opening the Rafah border unconditionally.
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