President Mohamed Morsy will visit Coptic families living in the city of Rafah on Friday after they were threatened by radical groups, security officials in North Sinai said.
The visit coincides with the end of the second phase of a joint police and military operation against militants in Sinai. Morsy will meet with the commanders of the operation.
On Wednesday, security forces combed the border area and tunnels near Rafah. Fifty new tunnels in three different areas were destroyed.
North Sinai Security Director Ahmed Bakr said the Rafah Police Station was reopened after it had been closed during the 25 January revolution.
Nearly 15 Coptic families had reportedly abandoned their homes in Rafah after unknown persons put up flyers demanding that they leave. Later, an unknown assailant fired at a Coptic-owned store. The incident was condemned by the acting pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Pachomius.
However, Bishop Quzman of North Sinai denied reports that the region’s Coptic citizens have been forced to leave their homes in Rafah and relocate to Arish.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
