State of alert declared in Upper Egypt cities

The authorities have declared a state of alert in Luxor, Aswan and other areas of Upper Egypt following threats of terrorist attacks by militant groups, the state-run news site Egynews reported on Monday. 

Security forces have been deployed around hotels and other tourist sites in both cities, which are important attractions for the country's tourism industry. Special deployments on roads connecting cities in the region were also reported. 

The Armed Forces have been combating alleged attacks in North Sinai, where militants have targeted military checkpoints and police stations on an almost daily basis throughout last month. Though not directly tied to former President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster, such attacks have intensified since the military removed him from office on July 3 following mass protests calling for his fall.

On Sunday, the military spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali said that 25 militants were killed and injured in the current special operations in the area. 

Meanwhile, Upper Egypt has seen an outbreak of cases of sectarian violence throughout last month. On Sunday, clashes erupted in Beni Suef between Muslim and Christian residents over the construction of a speed bump in front of one of their houses. Last week, repeated clashes between Christians and Muslims erupted in villages near the upper Egyptian city of Minya in what started off as a verbal altercation between two men, one Christian and the other Muslim.