Egyptian authorities say the shooting occured in the province of el-Wadi el-Gedid, southwest of Cairo.

State television reported the attack occurred at about 8:15 pm at the Naqb checkpoint, which is more than 600 kilometers (370 miles) southwest of Cairo, or 80 kilometers from the Kharga oasis.

Three other security personnel were injured in the attack, while two of the attackers were killed when security forces resisted the attack, according to a statement from the Egyptian Interior Ministry. The other attackers were being pursued.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) has claimed similar assaults in the country, including a January 9 car bombing at a police checkpoint that left eight people dead.

Attacks on Egyptian security forces are more common in the Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip. A local branch of IS operates in the Sinai Peninsula. There are occasional attacks in the western desert in Egypt, which borders Libya - another zone of activity for the extremist group.

Jihadist attacks have left hundreds of soldiers and police dead following the military overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

kbd/gsw (AFP, dpa, Reuters)