This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by ISIS in Sinai, a militant organization, shows a deadly attack by militants on an Egyptian police checkpoint, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt

Egyptian police have killed four suspected Islamist militants believed to have been planning a “major attack” in a shootout near Cairo, the interior ministry said.

The “takfiri” cell – an Arabic word for extremists who declare other Muslims disbelievers – had been meeting when police raided their hideout in Giza province, southwest of Cairo, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

“When the terrorist cell sensed the police drawing near they began shooting at them, which prompted the police force to fire back,” the statement said.

The suspects’ affiliation was not immediately clear but police often describe jihadists with links to the ISIS group or Al-Qaeda as “takfiris”.

They were “preparing to execute a major attack in the coming period,” the statement said.

ISIS’ Egyptian branch has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers in attacks, mostly in the Sinai Peninsula but also in Cairo.

The country has witnessed a deadly insurgency since the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and police cracked down on his Muslim Brotherhood movement, killing hundreds of protesters.