An armed attack on a security checkpoint Monday night left three people injured, one policeman and two civilians, after a failed robbery attempt.

The attack took place in the governorate of Qaliubiya and started with an attempted armed robbery against the two citizens, prompting them to run towards the security checkpoint, state-run MENA reported.

Subsequently, the perpetrators shot in the direction of the checkpoint, injuring the two citizens who were hospitalised. Security forces responded by chasing the perpetrators and exchanging fire, at which point the policeman was injured. The assailants fled the scene but security forces are carrying out “intensive efforts” to find them and prosecution is carrying out investigations.

Another attack was carried out against a checkpoint earlier this month, when armed assailants shot and killed two undercover policemen in the Upper Egypt governorate of Minya on 19 May.

Targeted attacks of policemen have become increasingly common throughout Egypt since Mohamed Morsi’s 3 July ouster. Rural Upper Egypt has seen a notable amount of violence against security forces, but the frequency of attacks has paled in comparison to Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula.

More than a dozen police officers have been killed in drive-by attacks in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqeya alone. Almost all of the attacks are perpetrated by armed attackers on motorcycles, striking police officers on their way home from work.