Egyptian police kill 5 terrorists in fire exchange in Delta province

CAIRO, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A total of five terrorists were killed on Monday in a fire exchange with police forces in Egypt's Delta province of Sharqiya, Egyptian Interior Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said six terrorists were also arrested in the security operation.

Security forces located the terrorists' hideout in a desert area between the 10th of Ramadan City and Belbis City of Sharqiya province, 60 km north of Cairo, the ministry said, adding the terrorists opened fire at police forces once they realized their presence.

According to the statement, four machine guns, ammunition and three handmade bombs were found at the hiding place, which was also used as a training site by the terrorists.

Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks in Egypt used to be centered in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and killing hundreds of policemen and soldiers over the past few years.

Last month, a terrorist attack against a mosque in the country's North Sinai killed at least 305 Muslim worshippers, including children, and wounded over 120 others.

Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the mosque attack, fingers are pointed at a Sinai-based group loyal to IS group, which has claimed most of the terrorist activities in Egypt over the past few years. Enditem