File Photo: Egyptian policemen enveloped by smoke during clashes with supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood (Photo: Reuters)
A policeman died and four others were injured on Sunday morning after unidentified assailants attacked a security checkpoint in Alexandria, 220 kilometres north of Cairo, the third attack of its kind in the Mediterranean city during December.
A security source told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that live shots were fired from car at a checkpoint in the western district of Al-Montaza.
In December, a policeman died while two others were injured in separate attacks on security checkpoints in Alexandria.
Since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, the number of violent attacks on security forces by militant groups has increased dramatically. Attacks are concentrated in the northern part of Sinai, where hundreds of security personnel have been killed, but have also become regular occurrences in other parts of Egypt.
Authorities have responded with a military assault on militant groups in Sinai and a security crackdown on Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and its allies, arresting hundreds connected with the group. The Brotherhood has denied any link with the violence.
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