CAIRO, Oct. 25 (Aswat Masriya) - A gunfire exchange in Ismailia on Sunday left three suspected militants dead and three security personnel injured including two police officers and one soldier, according to official sources.

The incident took a place on farmland in Ismailia province, north-east of the country, where members of a what the Interior Ministry described as a "terrorist" group were based, the ministry said in a statement published on its Facebook page. 

Based on intelligence gathered by the ministry, the group was planning a "series of hostilities" during the parliamentary elections.

The planned attacks, said the statement, was a response to the security forces' "successes" as they pursued the "terrorists" in the hideouts from which they commit their "vile" actions and where they prepare explosives.

The parliamentary elections are being held on two phases, the first of which ran from Oct. 17-19, while the second phase is due to be held from Nov. 21-23. The run-offs for the first phase are scheduled for later this week. 

After securing judicial permission, said the ministry, security forces raided the farmland hideout, where they faced a hail of "intense" gunfire and several explosives in an exchange that lasted for hours. 

The Interior Ministry says available information "confirms" that the aforementioned suspected militants have been involved in targeting police and army officers and vital state institutions.  

The security personnel injured in this incident were left with gunshot and shrapnel wounds and have been hospitalised. 

Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of this statement. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organizations that contradict official statements.