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Gunmen fire on passenger bus as fears grow that Egyptian security forces are losing grip on Sinai desert region Southern Israel was hit by what appeared to be a series of attacks on Thursday as two vehicles were fired on near the Egyptian border. Israeli television reported that several were killed in the first attack, which struck a bus carrying off-duty soldiers back from their bases. Reports said a vehicle had followed the bus, and two to three gunmen got out and opened fire with automatic weapons. The second, which rescue services said was on a passenger car, came close to the site of the earlier ambush. Ha’aretz reported that in addition mortars were fired from the Egyptian side of the border. Israel’s military spokesman, Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai, confirmed that soldiers had been targeted by explosive devices. He said there were fatalities as well as wounded and civilians and soldiers were among the casualties. The vehicle carrying the assailants fled the scene with Israeli security forces in pursuit and a gunbattle followed. TV footage showed the bus pulled over by a red rocky cliff. Windows and a door of the bus were shattered, and soldiers were patrolling the area on foot. The ambush will fuel concerns that Egyptian security forces are losing control of the Sinai desert region bordering southern Israel following the removal of Egypt’s longtime dictator, Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted earlier this year. Last week, Egypt moved thousands of troops into Sinai in an attempt to rout militants from the peninsula. Israel approved the move, the second time Egypt has mobilised forces in Sinai since Mubarak’s fall. Israel Middle East guardian.co.uk