At least three people have died during clashes between police and local residents in the Shubra El-Kheima district of Cairo.

Two police officers and one soldier were killed and 12 people were injured during the clashes that began on Saturday night, the health ministry in Qalyubia has confirmed.

The clashes reportedly erupted after a police officer chasing a suspected drug dealer on Mayou Street shot dead Mahrous Mohamed, an innocent bystander, on his balcony.

As a result, angry residents attempted to storm Shubra El-Kheima’s Second Police Station.

Police used tear gas and fired rounds into the air to disperse the crowds and security forces were deployed to prevent further attacks.

An officer sustained multiple injuries while defending the police station and a recruit was shot.

Details of how the two police officers and one soldier died have not been released.

The clashes come in the wake of several reports of police brutality in Egypt in recent weeks.

General Mohamed Ibrahim was recently appointed interior minister to cement "law and order" in a partial cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Hisham Qandil.

Shubra El-Kheima is a working class district in northern Cairo.