Militant attack kills 4 policemen in Egypt

Cairo: At least four policemen were killed today when motorcycle-borne militants attacked a checkpoint in Egypt's southwestern Giza city in an assault claimed by the Islamic State terror group.

The masked militants riding a motorcycle attacked the police checkpoint in the touristic area of Sakkara, a security official said.

The police are currently searching for the attackers, the official said.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to US monitors SITE Intelligence Group.

Egypt has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.

Over 600 security personnel have been reported killed since then. The military has launched security campaigns, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.