Egyptian security forces killed seven terrorists in a raid on a hideout in El-Amiriya neighbourhood in eastern Cairo on Tuesday evening.

The cell was planning to carry out terrorist operations during the Easter holiday, according to a statement by the interior ministry on Tuesday.

“The National Security Agency received information about a terrorist cell using shelters in east and south Cairo to launch terrorist operations in conjunction with the Easter holidays,” the ministry said.

Police found six automatic rifles, four cartridge weapons and a large amount of ammunition in the terrorists’ possession.

A police officer from the National Security Agency was killed during the raid, while one other officer and two security personnel were injured, the ministry added.

Police forces also raided a warehouse in El-Matariya neighbourhood where the terrorist cell had hid its weapons and explosives, and they found a number of automatic rifles and some ammunition.

Egyptian television displayed footage of the shooting during the hours-long operation in El-Amiriya.

The neighbourhood was in complete darkness during the operation, in what appeared to be a power cut.

The neighbourhood, like all of Egypt, is under a night-time curfew that begins at 8pm and lifts at 6am. 

The prosecutor-general has ordered an urgent investigation into the incident, and an inspection team from the state security prosecution office was dispatched to the scene.

The cabinet issued a statement on Tuesday mourning the death of Lieutenant-colonel Mohamed El-Houfy, the officer who was killed during the incident.

The cabinet also conveyed their condolences to the family of the deceased and to the interior ministry, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.