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Egyptian forces raid pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa General killed as Egyptian forces raid pro-Morsi town
(about 2 hours later)
Egyptian security forces have fought gun battles in a town near Cairo after launching an operation targeting "criminal and terrorist hotbeds". An Egyptian police general has been killed during a raid by security forces on the Muslim Brotherhood stronghold of Kerdasa, near the capital Cairo.
At least 28 suspected militants have been held in Kerdasa, state TV says. Security forces fought gun battles in the town as they searched for the killers of 11 police officers in the town last month.
Several hours after the operation started, security forces had to take cover as clashes flared with militants. At least 55 suspected militants were arrested, police say.
Eleven police officers were killed at a police station in Kerdasa last month, weeks after the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July. Kerdasa is the second big raid on a militant stronghold since the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in July.
Soldiers went into Kerdasa at about 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Thursday, backed by helicopters. On Monday, security forces arrested dozens of residents during a raid on pro-Morsi supporters in the town of Delga, Minya province, about 300km south of Cairo.
State media said a senior policeman had died in clashes with militants. In Kerdasa, General Nabeel Farrag was killed when gunmen opened fire from the rooftops of several schools and mosques they had taken over, the interior ministry was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
Another state TV report said that one of those arrested on Thursday was Ahmad Uways, the man accused of killing the head of Kerdasa police station on 14 August. Reporting from the centre of the town, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville said security forces had to take cover behind buildings during the shooting.
The authorities had previously promised to respond to the deadly attack on the police station. By the afternoon, the gunfire had petered out but there was still a heavy police presence on the streets and army checkpoints at all main exits, he adds.
Reporting from the centre of the town, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville said security forces had exchanged fire with unidentified gunmen who appeared to have taken up positions in a number of buildings in the town. At least 1,000 people - including about 100 police officers - have died in unrest following President Morsi's removal from power.
Security forces had to take cover behind buildings, our correspondent added. The deadliest incidents took place when security forces moved in to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo last month.
By Thursday afternoon, the gunfire had become less frequent but there was still a heavy police presence on the streets and and army checkpoints at all main exits, he added.
Earlier, residents had told the BBC that security forces were searching homes in Kerdasa for members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.
'Down with Sisi''Down with Sisi'
In the hours before police and soldiers moved in, the mood in the town was defiant, our correspondent says. Hundreds of members of the security forces backed by helicopters entered Kerdasa at about 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT).
Thousands of people attended a pro-Morsi rally on Wednesday night amid shouts of "Down with Sisi", referring to the head of the army. In the fighting that followed grenades were hurled at police, injuring 10 officers, according to General Medhat El Menshawy, head of special security forces.
After performing dawn prayers on Thursday, troops began taking their positions in armoured vehicles ready for the start of the operation, state-run news agency Mena reported. Thousands of people had attended a pro-Morsi rally in the town on Wednesday night amid shouts of "Down with Sisi", referring to the head of the army.
Military roadblocks outside Kerdasa prevented people from entering the area, our correspondent says. "I can't be responsible if you get shot," an officer was heard telling a local man. One of those arrested on Thursday is said to be Ahmad Uways, the man accused of killing the head of Kerdasa police station on 14 August.
Gen Menshawy said the detainees included people suspected of burning churches in the town and parading the bodies of the police officers killed last month.
In a separate incident on Thursday, several metro lines in the capital were disrupted after two suspected bombs were found on the tracks near Hilmiyat al-Zaytun station in the south of Cairo.In a separate incident on Thursday, several metro lines in the capital were disrupted after two suspected bombs were found on the tracks near Hilmiyat al-Zaytun station in the south of Cairo.
Security officials said bomb experts had been dispatched to the scene and services were now running again.Security officials said bomb experts had been dispatched to the scene and services were now running again.
However, there was confusion as to whether the bombs were viable devices or fakes.However, there was confusion as to whether the bombs were viable devices or fakes.
'Outsiders''Outsiders'
At least 1,000 people - including about 100 police officers - have died in unrest following President Morsi's removal from power.
The deadliest incidents took place when security forces moved in to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo last month.
Kerdasa, known for producing and selling textiles, is 14km (8.7 miles) from Cairo.Kerdasa, known for producing and selling textiles, is 14km (8.7 miles) from Cairo.
Residents were quoted on Wednesday saying they did not trust police: "We know they will come to arrest people we know and respect, whom they blame for the violence that we know was done by outsiders, not by our respectable sheikhs," Ahmed Aly told Reuters news agency.Residents were quoted on Wednesday saying they did not trust police: "We know they will come to arrest people we know and respect, whom they blame for the violence that we know was done by outsiders, not by our respectable sheikhs," Ahmed Aly told Reuters news agency.
"Eleven policemen were killed here, but so too were 11 people from Kerdasa killed at Rabaa," another resident told the BBC, referring to one of the pro-Morsi camps in Cairo cleared by the police."Eleven policemen were killed here, but so too were 11 people from Kerdasa killed at Rabaa," another resident told the BBC, referring to one of the pro-Morsi camps in Cairo cleared by the police.
Pictures of Mr Morsi are still in evidence on many buildings and lampposts in the town, our correspondent reports, leaving little doubt over where many people's allegiances lie.Pictures of Mr Morsi are still in evidence on many buildings and lampposts in the town, our correspondent reports, leaving little doubt over where many people's allegiances lie.
On Monday, Egyptian forces arrested dozens of residents during a raid on pro-Morsi supporters in the town of Delga, Minya province, about 300km south of Cairo.