Egypt says six militants killed in Cairo's Sixth of October suburb

Raid on hideout follows failed suicide bombing at church north of the capital

A police officer stands guard after failed attack on a church in Qalyubiyah, north of Cairo, on August 11, 2018. Reuters

Egyptian police killed six suspected extremist militants in a raid on their hideout west of Cairo, the interior ministry said on Monday.

The suspects died in a shootout after opening fire on security forces in the 6 October district, the ministry said. Three automatic rifles, other weapons, ammunition and extremist propaganda were found at the scene.

The ministry said it had received information that the suspects were planning attacks on vital installations, Christian places of worship and security personnel.

It did not specify when the raid took place or whether the suspected militants were affiliated with any specific group.

The raid follows a failed suicide attack against a church close to Cairo on Saturday, when officials said a bomber blew up just short of reaching his target because of tight security.

The interior ministry announced on Sunday that security forces had arrested six members of a "terrorist cell" behind that attempted attack.

Extremists launched an insurgency in Sinai after the 2013 removal of Egypt's Islamist president Mohamed Morsi by the military following mass protests against his rule.

Attacks have also taken place elsewhere in the country, including in Cairo.

The army in February launched a major operation focused on the Sinai peninsula in eastern Egypt to wipe out the insurgents, including ISIS.

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