Police: Gunmen Kill Egypt Policeman Guarding Niger Embassy
An Egyptian police officer guarding Niger's embassy in Cairo was shot dead on Tuesday night outside the diplomatic mission by gunmen who then fled the scene, a police official said.
A second officer was wounded by the two armed men, who were on a motorcycle, according to the official. Niger's embassy is situated in southwest Cairo.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the shooting, and it was not clear whether Niger's mission was specifically targeted.
Since the military toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, jihadist groups have carried out a string of attacks against security forces, killing hundreds of police and soldiers.
Most of the biggest attacks in recent months have taken place in the north of the Sinai peninsula, a stronghold of the jihadist group calling itself "Sinai Province", which in November pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Cairo has not been spared, however, and diplomatic missions have not been immune.
The IS-affiliated group claimed a car bombing outside the Italian Consulate in Cairo this month, the first attack against a foreign mission in Egypt since Morsi's ouster. A civilian was killed and nine others were wounded.
Jihadists say their attacks are in retaliation for a government crackdown launched against Morsi's supporters since his ouster.
Hundreds have been killed and thousands imprisoned in the crackdown.
Source: Agence France Presse
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