Egyptian police say their forces have managed to kill 10 suspected militants in an anti-terror operation in the capital Cairo.

A police source said five policemen were injured during the operation that targeted two apartments in central Cairo.

The source added that the suspected militants were from Hasm, a group that the Egyptian government links with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood party.

Authorities reportedly launched the operation after they received a tip off about the hideout of the individuals. When the attack started, one suspected militant detonated an explosive device to block the entry of police forces, leaving three officers injured. The two other police forces were injured during a shootout that erupted afterwards.

Hasm has claimed several attacks across Cairo since last year, most of them targeting judges and policemen. The Muslim Brotherhood, the most popular political party in Egypt and the oldest in the Arab world, has denied any connections to the group. The Brotherhood says the government accusations about Hasm are part of larger crackdown launched against Brotherhood members since the party was removed from power in a coup three years ago. Tens of thousands remain behind bars for links to the group while senior members, including former President Mohammed Morsi, face death or life sentences over terrorism charges.

Egypt has suffered attacks by various other groups since the popular coup of 2013 that many say was orchestrated by the then army chief and current president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Militants loyal to the Daesh, a Takfiri terrorist group operating in Iraq and Syria, still target security forces in the restive Sinai Peninsula while they continue to pose threats to the Coptic Christians in other provinces. This comes as Sisi has largely failed to keep his vows to root out terrorism from Egypt.