Policeman killed in attack in Egypt's Delta city

Militants opened fire Sunday on a traffic police patrol in the Nile Delta town of Benha, northern Egypt, killing one policeman and injuring three others, official news agency MENA reported.

The gunmen opened fire randomly from a flyover on the patrol centered down the bridge at the early hours of Sunday and then fled the scene, leaving one policeman killed and three others injured, the report said, adding the police car was totally damaged.

Initial investigations said automatic weapons and birdshot were used in the attack.

Egypt has been suffering waves of attacks against security forces since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and harsh crackdown over his supporters in 2013.

The attacks, which were centered mainly in Sinai Peninsula, have recently crept into Cairo and other cities.

Hundreds of army and policemen were killed in the militant attacks.

Al-Qaida-inspired Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks. Endit