RAFAH: An Egyptian security official says police opened fire on two vehicles that shot at a major security checkpoint in northern Sinai, killing one of the attackers.

The official says the dead man was from a major Bedouin tribe, a group of disaffected nomads who often protest against government neglect and security crackdowns following terrorist attacks in the country.

The official says police seized the man s vehicle and were looking for gunmen who fled on foot and in the second vehicle. No policemen were wounded in the attack Thursday.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.