CAIRO, May 21 (Aswat Masriya) - A police conscript was killed and another was injured on Thursday during fire exchange with "outlaws" in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya, a local security official said.

Security forces were combing the area in search for "outlaws," Meligy Fattouh said, adding that one of the "criminals" was also killed in the confrontation and another was wounded while in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Bombings and shootings have surged across the country since July 2013, with the vast majority of them taking place in North Sinai, although other parts of the country have been hit.

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