Story highlights Analyst says militant's death likely "has little implication" for the group in Sinai

It's unclear whether Egypt believes the terrorist was involved in the Metrojet crash

Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein al-Gharabali is accused of previous attack attempts

(CNN) A leader in an ISIS-affiliated Egyptian terrorist group has been killed, Egypt's state media reported Monday.

That terrorist group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for downing the Russian Metrojet flight last month.

Egyptian authorities have said it's too soon to tell what caused the crash, and they haven't accused Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein al-Gharabali of being involved. But the government's announcement of his death Monday comes as authorities face questions over security after the crash and push to project a tough stance on terrorism.

Gharabali was killed in a shootout with security forces at a checkpoint in the El-Marg district in northeastern Cairo, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported, citing Egypt's Interior Ministry.

Officers were attempting to carry out an arrest warrant against Gharabali. Police were approaching Gharabali's vehicle when he attempted to flee and opened fire with a pistol, MENA said. Details on when the incident took place were not immediately forthcoming from the ministry.

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