Six police officers and a civilian were killed after two bombs went off in Egypt – one in Cairo on the road leading to the Great Pyramids of Giza and the other in Kafr El-Sheikh city, 120 km north of the capital. Three officers each were injured in both explosions, which took place on Friday evening, CNN reported. A police vehicle is believed to have been the target of the Kafr El-Sheikh bombing.
Local militant group Hasm claimed responsibility for the Giza attack on its website, according to Egyptian website Arham News. The blast, which took place at a police checkpost, was one of the worst targetting security in Cairo in the last six months. The Interior Ministry said a “roadside bomb had exploded...slightly wounding two policemen who were patrolling in a car and killing a civilian...who happened to be in the vicinity”.
Hasm, the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, also said that it was behind the assassination attempt on a senior prosecutor in September, according to BBC. The outfit has accused judges in Egypt of awarding the death sentence to thousands of innocents or sending them to jail for life.
No extremist outfit has claimed the Kafr El-Sheikh strike so far.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!