Unknown gunmen opened fire Sunday night at a police station in Al-Arish city in North Sinai, eyewitnesses told Ahram Arabic news website.

Police exchanged fire with armed assailants who were reportedly hiding behind nearby buildings.

Separately, a shooting incident was reported near a bank in the coastal city, spreading panic amongst residents. Assailants fired at an armoured vehicle guarding the bank as military helicopters hovered overhead.

There are unconfirmed reports of a solider being killed in the attack, according to Ahram.

Egypt's deserted Sinai Peninsula has been plagued by a political and security vacuum since the 2011 revolution that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The lawless province has seen an upsurge of violence since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi early in July, with almost daily attacks by Islamist militants on security checkpoints.

More than a dozen security personnel and have been killed in drive-by shootings and rocket attacks since then.

The army has killed ten militant fighters since launching their latest crackdown operation, according to security sources.

At least four civilians have also been killed by militant violence.