Eight alleged militants were killed in a fire exchange with the Egyptian security forces in several areas of Giza and Cairo, according to statement from the ministry of interior on Thursday.

Two militants were killed in two separate incidents when the security forces tried to ambush them.

Another six terrorists were on the run, when they were killed in a fire exchange with the police forces near Al-Wahat desert road.

The statement said that the eight militants were planning to commit “acts of terror”, coinciding with the Coptic holidays.

“Information by the National Security Apparatus unveiled that a group of terrorists was hiding, planning to target several crucial areas,” the ministry said.

Automatic firearms, fake identification cards, as well as several documents were confiscated, according to the ministry.

The statement added that the alleged militants were planning on launching several “hostile attacks”, targeting the state’s vital installations.

Since 2013, Egypt has faced several terrorist attacks targeting hundreds of security personnel, mostly carried out by the Islamic State terrorist group’s branch in Sinai.