Explosives experts at the interior ministry managed to defuse more than 150 explosive devices in different governorates over the past three months, according to the ministry’s official spokesman.

General Hany Abdel-Latif, speaking at a press conference on Friday, said that the Egyptian police force had lost more than 50 members, including officers, low ranking officers and conscripts, in violence over the past three months. 

The spokesman denied reports of abuse and rape of detainees in Egyptian prisons and in police custody. 

After the ousting of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July last year, attacks against security forces escalated rapidly. Around 500 police and military personnel have been killed since then.

The government has accused supporters of ousted president Morsi of orchestrating attacks against security personnel. The Brotherhood has denied any link to violence against the authorities.