Bomb kills 3 Egyptian police officers, wounds at least 24

A bomb struck a bus carrying Egyptian police officers on Monday, killing three and wounding 33 others, police said. The attack is the latest to be carried out against security forces who are being targeted by local militants who have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.

"Three policemen were killed, including one who succumbed to his wounds in hospital," health ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar told AFP, updating an earlier toll.

"Thirty-three policemen were also wounded. One of them remains in a critical condition."

The attack occurred in the Nile Delta province of Baheira, 260 kilometres north of Cairo, while the policemen were travelling to work in a civilian bus.

Militants from Egypt's IS affiliate have launched regular attacks against security forces since the army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Most of their attacks are in the Sinai Peninsula, but deadly bombings have also been carried out in other cities including Cairo.

On Thursday, a car bomb claimed by IS tore through a Cairo police building injuring 29 people, including six policemen.

The group also claimed a car bomb attack targeting the Italian consulate in downtown Cairo on 11 July which killed a passerby.

The consulate bombing was followed by the abduction of Croatian engineer Tomislav Salopek, who IS later claimed to have beheaded.