MOSCOW/NAZRAN, July 2 (RIA Novosti) -- Two policemen were killed, and five others wounded on Wednesday in the town of Malgobek in Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia after their vehicles came under gunfire, a local police source said.

According to preliminary investigations and witness reports, a group of unidentified assailants driving a Russian Lada sedan opened fire on a police patrol vehicle, killing two law enforcement officers and wounding three, and several minutes later attacked another police car.

"Two police officers were wounded in the second attack," the source said.

During the first five months of 2008 Ingushetia saw a sharp increase in assaults on law enforcement and military personnel. In 53 attacks a total of 12 police officers and four servicemen were killed and 46 law enforcement officers and 11 soldiers were injured.

In comparison only 15 similar attacks occurred during the same period in Ingushetia last year.