Egypt's Interior Ministry said on Saturday that 16 policemen were killed and 13 were injured in a shootout with terrorists on Friday in Egypt's Western Desert. The ministry said that 11 police officers, four conscripts and one sergeant were killed in the shootout, and a search is underway for one missing police officer. Four police officers and nine conscripts were also injured. The ministry also said that 15 terrorist were killed or injured in the attack. The ministry added that "media outlets should rely on official sources only for information on the incident." Shortly after the attack, authorities released a statement saying that "a number of policemen" were killed after terrorists opened fire on security forces as they attempted to conduct a raid on a terrorist hideout in Egypt's Western Desert, about 135 kilometres (83 miles) southwest of Giza. The hours-long shootout took place when an initial security force attempted to raid the hideout, leading to an exchange of fire initiated by the terrorists, who were armed with "heavy weapons," according to the Saturday statement. Later on, Egyptian security forces exchanged fire with the terrorists after combing the area, killing and wounding 15 of them. "The ministry stresses … that this (incident) will only strengthen its resolve and determination to exert more efforts and uproot terrorism," the statement added. Source: Ahram online
