Egyptian forces raid pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa

At least 28 suspected militants have been held in Kerdasa, state TV says.

Several hours after the operation started, security forces had to take cover as clashes flared with militants.

Eleven police officers were killed at a police station in Kerdasa last month, weeks after the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July.

Soldiers went into Kerdasa at about 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Thursday, backed by helicopters.

State media said a senior policeman had died in clashes with militants.

Another state TV report said that one of those arrested on Thursday was Ahmad Uways, the man accused of killing the head of Kerdasa police station on 14 August.

The authorities had previously promised to respond to the deadly attack on the police station.

Reporting from the centre of the town, the  BBC's Quentin Sommerville https://twitter.com/sommervillebbc said security forces had exchanged fire with unidentified gunmen who appeared to have taken up positions in a number of buildings in the town.

Security forces had to take cover behind buildings, our correspondent added.

By Thursday afternoon, the gunfire had become less frequent but there was still a heavy police presence on the streets and and army checkpoints at all main exits, he added.

Earlier, residents had told the BBC that security forces were searching homes in Kerdasa for members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.

BBC