Gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a security vehicle Friday killing five policemen just a short distance from some of Egypt's oldest pyramids in Giza, officials said.

The shooting in the early hours of the morning took place in the village of Abusir in Badrashin, part of Greater Cairo, and the slain policemen were part of the force tasked to guard the district of Saqqara, one of Egypt's most popular tourist sites and host to a collection of temples, tombs and funerary complexes.

Authorities cordoned off the area and ambulances rushed to the site of the attack, which is located near the famous Step Pyramid of King Djoser. It is the oldest of Egypt's more than 90 pyramids and the forerunner of the more familiar straight-sided pyramids in Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

Attackers stole the weapons and radios of the victims and tried to set fire to the bodies but fled upon seeing people gathering nearby, witnesses said.

The Interior Ministry said that the militants sprayed the policemen's vehicle with bullets from machine guns as the security force was on the move to patrol the surroundings. They fled after one policeman returned gunfire, the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, officials said that the attackers were masked and that they targeted a checkpoint.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The attack comes a week after Islamic militants killed 23 army personnel in Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April after suicide bombers struck two churches north of Cairo, killing scores of Christians.

Insurgents have carried out a number of attacks in Egypt since the 2013 military ouster of an elected Islamist president. The violence has been concentrated in the northern Sinai Peninsula, but attacks spread in the mainland, including in the capital where suicide bombers have struck churches and security headquarters.

The Islamic State group affiliate has claimed responsibility for major attacks. However, a shadowy group called Hasm, or "Decisiveness," which the government suspects is linked to the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, has claimed responsibility for similar drive-by shootings and attacks targeting police, military, judges and pro-government figures.

The brotherhood won a series of elections in Egypt following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, and Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood leader, became Egypt's first freely elected president the following year. His brief rule proved divisive, and the military overthrew him in 2013. Authorities outlawed the Brotherhood a few months later, declaring it a terrorist group.

Last Friday, IS claimed responsibility for a stunning attack on a remote Egyptian army outpost in the Sinai Peninsula with a suicide car bomb and heavy machine gun fire Friday, killing at least 23 soldiers. It was the deadliest attack in the turbulent region in two years. On the same day, Hasm claimed responsibility for shooting and killing a policeman as he was heading for Friday prayers.

Over the past days, the government announced killings of members of Hasm in alleged shootouts with security forces. In previous incidents, families of the slain suspects challenged authorities' accounts and accuse them of illegal detentions, torture, and executions of their beloved ones. Last week, Hasm accused authorities of killing its detained members and vowed to continue its attacks on security forces.

While Hasm distances itself from attacking Egypt's Christians, the IS affiliate has concentrated its campaign on Coptic Christians, calling them the group's "favorite prey" and over the past months, suicide bombers struck three churches and a bus carrying Coptic Christians killing more than 100 people. Egypt's Christians account for about 10 percent of the country's 93 million people and extremists use Christians' support for the military ouster of Morsi as a justification for attacks.

The attacks prompted the Egyptian churches to suspend religious festivals and group tours for the remainder after authorities warned them about possible attacks by Islamic militants. Troops backed by armored vehicles and snipers would be deployed outside monasteries hosting major religious festivals in coming weeks. At least two of these festivals will take place in Assiut, home to a sizeable Christian community. In addition to the major suicide bombings, militants have forced displacement of scores of Christian families in northern Sinai after a spate of shootings.

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Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef contributed to this report.</s>Masked gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a security checkpoint Friday killing five policemen just a short distance from some of the country's oldest pyramids in Giza, officials said.

The drive-by shooting in the early hours of the morning took place in the village of Abusir in Badrashin, part of Greater Cairo, and the slain policemen were part of the force tasked to guard Saqqara, one of Egypt's most popular tourist sites and host to a collection of temples, tombs and funerary complexes.

The attack took place near the famous Step Pyramid of King Djoser — the oldest of Egypt's more than 90 pyramids and the forerunner of the more familiar straight-sided pyramids in Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

Attackers stole the weapons and radios of the victims and tried to set fire to the bodies but fled upon seeing people gathering nearby, witnesses said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Insurgents have carried out a number of attacks in Egypt since the 2013 military ouster of an elected Islamist president. The violence has been concentrated in the northern Sinai Peninsula, but attacks spread in the mainland, including in the capital where suicide bombers struck churches and security headquarters.

While the Islamic State group affiliate has claimed responsibility for major attacks. A shadowy group called Hasm, or "Decisiveness," which the government suspects is linked to the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, claimed responsibility for similar drive-by shootings and attacks targeting police, military, judges and pro-government figures.

The brotherhood won a series of elections in Egypt following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, and Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood leader, became Egypt's first freely elected president the following year. His brief rule proved divisive, and the military overthrew him in 2013. Authorities outlawed the Brotherhood a few months later, declaring it a terrorist group.

Last Friday, IS claimed responsibility for a stunning attack on a remote Egyptian army outpost in the Sinai Peninsula with a suicide car bomb and heavy machine gun fire Friday, killing at least 23 soldiers. It was the deadliest attack in the turbulent region in two years. On the same day, Hasm claimed responsibility for shooting and killing a policeman as he was heading for Friday prayers.

Over the past days, the government announced killings of members of Hasm in alleged shootouts with security forces. In previous incidents, families of the slain suspects challenged authorities' accounts and accuse them of illegal detentions, torture, and executions of their beloved ones.

Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef contributed to this report.</s>Egyptian police are seen at the scene where gunmen attacked a tourist bus in front of a hotel in Giza, Great Cairo January 7, 2016. Five police officers were killed in a shooting at a security checkpoint today. ― Reuters picCAIRO, July 14 — Gunmen ambushed an Egyptian security checkpoint today, opening fire on a car and killing five policemen in an area just south of the capital, the state-run MENA news agency and the Interior Ministry said.

Three gunmen on a motorbike attacked police in al-Badrasheen area of Giza province, 30km south of Cairo, killing two officers and three conscripts, the agency said citing a security source.

“A police officer who was near the site of the attack exchanged fire with the assailants forcing them to flee,” the ministry statement said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Egyptian security forces have been battling the local affiliate of Islamic State in the northern Sinai area and attacks have spread to other parts of Egypt.

Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013 in the Sinai Peninsula. At least 23 soldiers were killed last week when suicide car bombs hit two checkpoints in the region in an attack claimed by Islamic State. It was one of the bloodiest assaults on security forces in years.

Islamic State has also intensified attacks in other areas, often targeting Coptic Christians. About 100 Copts have been killed since December.

In May gunmen assault on a group of Copts in a bus travelling to a monastery, killing 29 people and two bombings of churches killed more than 40 people a month earlier.

Church sources yesterday said Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians and the Egyptian Catholic church have been told by church leaders to cancel all events, camps and activities outside churches in July because of a security threat. — Reuters</s>Egypt's state-run news agency says gunmen have attacked a security checkpoint in Cairo, killing five security forces.

MENA quotes an Interior Ministry statement as saying the gunmen attacked the checkpoint Friday in the Badrashin area in Giza, part of Greater Cairo.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Insurgents have carried out a number of attacks in Egypt since the 2013 military ouster of an elected Islamist president. The violence has been concentrated in the northern Sinai Peninsula, but there have also been several attacks on the mainland, including in the capital.

The shadowy group Hasm, believed to be affiliated to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, has claimed responsibility for similar attacks.</s>See the full shoot, "His, Hers, and Theirs," in all of its '60s androgyny glamour here.</s>MENA quotes an Interior Ministry statement as saying the gunmen attacked the checkpoint Friday in the Badrashin area in Giza, part of Greater Cairo.

Insurgents have carried out a number of attacks in Egypt since the 2013 military ouster of an elected Islamist president. The violence has been concentrated in the northern Sinai Peninsula, but there have also been several attacks on the mainland, including in the capital.</s>CAIRO, July 14 (Reuters) - Gunmen ambushed an Egyptian security checkpoint on Friday, opening fire on a car and killing five policemen in an area just south of the capital, the state-run MENA news agency and the Interior Ministry said.

Three gunmen on a motorbike attacked police in al-Badrasheen area of Giza province, 30 km (20 miles) south of Cairo, killing two officers and three conscripts, the agency said citing a security source.

"A police officer who was near the site of the attack exchanged fire with the assailants forcing them to flee," the ministry statement said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Egyptian security forces have been battling the local affiliate of Islamic State in the northern Sinai area and attacks have spread to other parts of Egypt.

Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013 in the Sinai Peninsula. At least 23 soldiers were killed last week when suicide car bombs hit two checkpoints in the region in an attack claimed by Islamic State. It was one of the bloodiest assaults on security forces in years.

Islamic State has also intensified attacks in other areas, often targeting Coptic Christians. About 100 Copts have been killed since December.

In May gunmen assault on a group of Copts in a bus travelling to a monastery, killing 29 people and two bombings of churches killed more than 40 people a month earlier.

Church sources on Thursday said Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians and the Egyptian Catholic church have been told by church leaders to cancel all events, camps and activities outside churches in July because of a security threat. (Reporting by Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Alison Williams)</s>Attackers stole the weapons and radios of the victims and tried to set fire to the bodies but fled upon seeing people gathering nearby, witnesses said.

The Interior Ministry said the militants sprayed the policemen’s vehicle with machine-guns as the security force was on the move to patrol the surroundings. They fled after one policeman returned gunfire, the ministry said in a statement. Earlier, officials said that the attackers were masked and that they targeted a checkpoint.

The attack took place in the village of Abusir in Badrashin, part of Greater Cairo, on a weekend in Egypt when there is little traffic in the streets. The slain policemen were part of the force tasked to guard the district of Saqqara, one of Egypt’s most popular tourist sites and host to a collection of temples, tombs and funerary complexes.

The deadly shooting heightened fears of what has become near-weekly attacks by suspected Islamic militants after a blitz attack left 23 troops dead in northern Sinai a week ago. Friday’s attack comes amid a months-long state of emergency following a series of church bombings in the spring, and threatens to deal a blow to Egypt’s struggling tourism industry and economy.

CAIRO—Gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire Friday on a security vehicle patrolling a Giza village near some of Egypt’s oldest pyramids, killing five police, the Interior Ministry and officials said.

CBC Extra, a privately owned Egyptian TV network, said surveillance cameras in a gas station near the site of the attack showed the attackers disguised in police uniforms and that they stopped the police vehicle before opening fire. It wasn’t immediately possible to confirm the network’s account.

Authorities cordoned off the area and ambulances rushed to the site of the attack, which is located near the famous Step Pyramid of King Djoser. It is the oldest of Egypt’s more than 90 pyramids and the forerunner of the more familiar straight-sided pyramids in Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but it carried the hallmarks of the Hasm group, which the government links to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, from which the ousted president hails.

The attack comes a week after Islamic militants killed 23 army personnel in a remote checkpoint in northeastern Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April after suicide bombers struck two churches north of Cairo, killing scores of Christians.

Egypt has been rocked with deadly suicide bombings and drive-by shootings since the 2013 military ouster of an elected Islamist president. The violence has been concentrated in the northern Sinai Peninsula, but attacks have spread to the mainland, including in the capital where suicide bombers have struck churches and security headquarters.

A Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, affiliate has claimed responsibility for major attacks. However, a smaller group called Hasm, or “Decisiveness,” which the government suspects is linked to the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, has claimed responsibility for similar drive-by shootings and attacks targeting police, military, judges and pro-government figures.

The Brotherhood won a series of elections in Egypt following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood leader, became Egypt’s first freely elected president the following year. His brief rule proved divisive, and the military overthrew him in 2013. Authorities outlawed the Brotherhood a few months later, declaring it a terrorist group. An ensuing security crackdown on the group’s ranks battered its leadership, who are either in prison or exile, and its youth became potential recruits for militant groups.

Last Friday, Daesh claimed responsibility for a stunning attack on a remote Egyptian army outpost in the Sinai Peninsula with a suicide car bomb and heavy machine-gun fire, killing at least 23 soldiers. It was the deadliest attack in the turbulent region in two years. On the same day, Hasm claimed responsibility for shooting and killing a policeman in Cairo.

Recently, the government announced the killing of Hasm members in alleged shootouts with security forces. In previous incidents, families of the slain suspects challenged authorities’ accounts and accused them of illegal detentions, torture and executions of their beloved ones. Last week, Hasm accused authorities of killing its detained members and vowed to continue its attacks on security forces.

While Hasm distances itself from attacking Egypt’s Christians, the Daesh affiliate has concentrated its campaign on Coptic Christians and suicide bombers have struck three churches and a bus carrying Coptic Christians in recent months killing more than 100 people. Egypt’s Christians account for about 10 per cent of the country’s 93 million people and extremists use Christians’ support for the military ouster of the Islamist Morsi as a justification for attacks.

Besides the major suicide bombings, militants have forced the displacement of scores of Christian families in northern Sinai after a spate of shootings.

Friday’s attack could impact an already struggling tourism industry — a pillar of Egypt’s economy that employs millions of people. The industry has suffered from political instability and a fragile security situation since the 2011 uprising. The year before the upheaval, nearly 15 million tourists visited Egypt. Last year, the figure was 5.3 million, according to official reports.</s>Three assailants on motorbike attack police checkpoint 30km outside Cairo before fleeing scene, interior ministry says.

Gunmen ambushed an Egyptian security checkpoint, opening fire on a car and killing five policemen in an area just south of the capital, state-run MENA news agency and the interior ministry said.

Three gunmen on a motorbike attacked police in al-Badrasheen area of Giza province, 30km south of Cairo, killing two officers and three conscripts, the agency said on Friday citing a security source.

"A police officer who was near the site of the attack exchanged fire with the assailants forcing them to flee," the ministry statement said.

Attackers stole the weapons and radios of the victims and tried to set fire to the bodies but fled when they saw people gathering nearby, witnesses said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Egyptian security forces have been battling the local affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in the northern Sinai area and attacks have spread to other parts of Egypt.

Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013 in the Sinai Peninsula. At least 23 soldiers were killed last week when suicide car bombs hit two checkpoints in the region in an attack claimed by ISIL.

It was one of the bloodiest assaults on security forces in years.

ISIL has also intensified attacks in other areas, often targeting Coptic Christians. About 100 Copts have been killed since December.

In May gunmen assault on a group of Copts in a bus travelling to a monastery, killing 29 people and two bombings of churches killed more than 40 people a month earlier.

Church sources on Thursday said Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians and the Egyptian Catholic church have been told by church leaders to cancel all events, camps and activities outside churches in July because of a security threat.</s>Officers shot and killed a man Wednesday night who charged at them with a blunt object, according to the Grover Beach Police Department.

Shortly after 10 p.m., police received a report of a disturbance outside a home in the 1000 block of Brighton Avenue. Two Grover Beach officers arrived at the scene within minutes and found a man armed with a blunt object in front of the home.

Upon the officers’ arrival, the suspect immediately became argumentative and was combative toward them, police said. The officers tried to calm the suspect, and they asked him to drop his weapon.

But, the suspect refused and then threatened the officers while walking toward him, police said. The officers deployed a Taser, which had no effect on the suspect.

The man continued to threaten the officers and charged toward them with the weapon in a threatening manner and officers shot the man, police said.

Neither of the officers suffered injuries during the incident. Both have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the county district attorney’s office.

One of the policemen was a sergeant with more than 15 years of service. The other was an officer with less than one year of service.

Police are withholding the identities of the officers and the deceased man until an investigation has been conducted and relatives have been notified.
Gunmen shoot dead five police officers near Giza.