Egypt’s ministry of interior on Tuesday said that it has foiled a terrorist attack that was planned for Christmas.
Forces raided several militant hideouts in Alexandria and northern Sinai.
Five militants were killed, as several leaders of different militant groups got arrested in the swoop, with assorted weapons also recovered.
The government says it will deploy over 250 thousand security officers as Christians gear up for Christmas festivities.
Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar instructed authorities to beef up security in the surroundings of churches and vital state facilities during the period.
Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group.
