Egyptian policeman shot dead by unknown militants near Cairo

An Egyptian policeman was killed and two others were injured Monday when unknown gunmen opened fire at their checkpoint on the outskirts of Cairo, state-run MENA news agency reported.

A group of militants attacked a police checkpoint on the Cairo ring road in Qalyubia province, north of Cairo, and exchanged fire with the on-duty personnel, causing the death of a police sergeant and the injury of an officer and a conscript.

The assailants managed to escape the scene, while police forces launched a manhunt to arrest them, according to MENA.

Egypt has been facing anti-government attacks, mostly in the Sinai Peninsula, which have killed hundreds of police and army personnel since 2013.

Last month, a mortar attack on a security checkpoint in North Sinai's El-Arish city killed 15 policemen.

The North Sinai-based militant group Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis (ABM), which is affiliated with the Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.

The Egyptian military's continuous massive operations on the peninsula have killed hundreds of militants as part of the country's "war against terrorism." Endit