Two police officers killed in bomb blasts near Cairo palace:
The militant group Ajnad Misr, or Soldiers of Egypt, said it had planted several bombs near the presidential palace to target security forces before realising that civilians could be in danger. It later released a statement saying it had been unable to remove the devices and urging passersby to be cautious. Ref. Source 6
Egypt's main jihadist group pledges allegiance to ISIS:
The group has waged a campaign of violence from its Sinai Peninsula stronghold that has killed scores of policemen and soldiers since the Egyptian army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year. Ref. Source 6
Five Militants of an IS-Linked Group Killed in Egypt;
Five militants belonging to an Islamic State-linked local jihadist group were killed today in army raids in Egypt's restive North Sinai governorate. The militants were killed in cities of Al-Arish, Sheikh Zwayed and Rafah, army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said. Ref. Source 9