CAIRO, Apr 1 (Aswat Masriya) - A policeman in the Homeland Security branch was shot dead by unknown assailants in Menoufia to the north of the Egyptian capital in the early hours of Wednesday, a senior local security official said.

The assailants fled the scene and a team has been tasked with uncovering the details of the shooting, Momtaz Fahmy, Menoufia's Security Director said.

Bombings and shootings targeting security forces have surged since July 2013.

Attacks in general target security forces but civilians have been affected.

The vast majority of attacks have taken place in North Sinai, although other parts of the country have been hit.