CAIRO, Mar 26 (Aswat Masriya) - An official at a Suez police station was shot dead early Thursday during a chase with masked men which also left one of the assailants killed, the state agency MENA reported.

Police forces exchanged fire with armed assailants, leaving the Ganayen Police Station official injured, reported MENA. He died upon being transferred to hospital.

Bombings and shootings targeting security forces have surged since the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule.