Egypt says 6 gunmen killed in Cairo shootout

CAIRO

Six gunmen were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces west of Cairo on Monday, according to the Interior Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said a shootout erupted when police forces raided an apartment, where suspected militants were hiding in the October 6 City, west of Cairo.

According to the statement, weapons were seized during the raid.

The statement did not mention any casualties among security forces.

Anadolu Agency could not verify the ministry's narrative from independent sources, but human rights groups accuse security forces of killing civilians during raids, a claim denied by the authorities.

Egypt has been battling a militant insurgency in recent years, particularly in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where scores of security forces were killed in attacks by Daesh-linked militant groups.