Egypt explosion hits Italian consulate in Cairo
-
11 July 2015
- From the section Middle East
A large explosion has severely damaged the Italian consulate in Egypt’s capital, Cairo.
The health ministry says at least one person has died. Four people were also injured, medical sources said.
The blast was caused by a car bomb, an official told the state-run news agency Mena. No group has yet said it carried out the attack.
The embassy was closed and no civilian staff members are among the injured, an embassy official told AP.
Egypt’s public prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, was killed last month by a car bomb attack in the city.
In the same month, another car bomb targeting a police station left three people dead.
Egyptian security forces have been battling Islamic militants, but the fighting has been mostly confined to the Sinai Peninsula.
Militants in Egypt have killed at least 600 police and armed forces personnel in the past two years.
The militants stepped up their attacks after the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.
In recent weeks, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has promised to crack down further on Islamist militants.
Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members, including ousted President Mohammed Morsi, have been sentenced to death by Egypt’s courts.
The majority remain on death row awaiting execution.
Are you in Cairo, did you witness the bomb blast? If you are in a safe place, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
- Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
- Whatsapp: +44 7525 900971
- Send pictures or video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk
- Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
- Send an SMS or MMS to 61124
Or use the form below
Required field
