Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis, Egypt’s most dangerous anti-government group, has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Reuters reported.
Ansar had told Reuters in the past that it was receiving inspiration and advice from ISIS.
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“After entrusting God we decided to swear allegiance to the emir of the faithful Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, caliph of the Muslims in Syria and Iraq and in other countries, ” the statement said.
Last week, the Egyptian government declared a three-month state of emergency in north Sinai, following the killing of at least 33 security personnel in some of the worst violence since the coup that toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but previous operations in the same area have been claimed by Ansar, according to Reuters.
In mid-October, the Egyptian military arrested the leader of the military wing of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis in North Sinai, Walid Attalah.