Nine militants were killed Friday in an exchange of fire with security forces in the district of Zaidia in Giza governorate, said the Interior Ministry.
The exchange of fire resulted in the injury of three police officers and two conscripts who were transferred to hospital for treatment.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the militants were “preparing to launch a series of hostile acts during Eid al-Adha celebrations”.
It further said that the militants killed “were involved” in the Italian consulate explosion in July and the explosion of the Homeland Security building later in August.
Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of this statement. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organizations that contradict official statements.
Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since the military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule. Most attacks target security forces in North Sinai.