Car Bomb Kills 3 at Hotel Housing Election Judges in Egypt's Sinai

Cairo: A car bomb exploded outside a hotel housing election judges in Egypt's North Sinai today, killing at least three people and injuring 14, security and medical sources said.

The blasts in the provincial capital of al-Arish came a day after the second round of a parliamentary election closed. Egyptian state television also reported the incident.

A suicide bomber tried to drive a car bomb into the hotel before security forces opened fire on him, causing the car to explode, security sources said.

The bomber and three others, two policemen and a judge, were killed, security sources said. Two judges, seven policemen and five hotel staff were injured, authorities added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Islamic State's Egypt affiliate, Sinai Province, has carried out similar attacks in the region as part of its bid to topple the Cairo government.

State television and security sources first said a car bomb exploded then a second blast hit the area about ten minutes later.

Ambulances rushed to the scene, which was sealed off by soldiers and police, said the security sources.