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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Cairo explosion: at least six injured in bomb attack near security building | Cairo explosion: at least six injured in bomb attack near security building |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A car bomb exploded near a security building in Cairo early on Thursday morning Egypt’s interior ministry has said, in the latest of a series of violent attacks that have shaken the capital in recent months. | A car bomb exploded near a security building in Cairo early on Thursday morning Egypt’s interior ministry has said, in the latest of a series of violent attacks that have shaken the capital in recent months. |
| The blast happened close to the national security agency building in Shubra Al-Khaima, a neighbourhood on the northern edge of the Egyptian capital. | The blast happened close to the national security agency building in Shubra Al-Khaima, a neighbourhood on the northern edge of the Egyptian capital. |
| Egypt’s interior ministry confirmed in a statement that a car had exploded outside the security compound. The assailant fled the scene on a motorcycle, it said. | Egypt’s interior ministry confirmed in a statement that a car had exploded outside the security compound. The assailant fled the scene on a motorcycle, it said. |
| “A man suddenly stopped his car in front of the state security building, jumped out of it and fled on a motorbike that followed the car,” the statement said. | “A man suddenly stopped his car in front of the state security building, jumped out of it and fled on a motorbike that followed the car,” the statement said. |
| “The car exploded wounding six policemen.” | “The car exploded wounding six policemen.” |
| The statement added that the six officers had been taken to a hospital and that the building was damaged. Television footage from the scene also showed damaged buildings. | The statement added that the six officers had been taken to a hospital and that the building was damaged. Television footage from the scene also showed damaged buildings. |
| The sound of the explosion echoed across Cairo just before 2am (midnight GMT), rattling windows and waking sleeping residents miles from the blast. | |
| The Associated Press reported that for blocks around the blast site, glass from blown-out windows could be seen on the street. | The Associated Press reported that for blocks around the blast site, glass from blown-out windows could be seen on the street. |
| There was no answer in response to calls placed to the the media centre of Egypt’s interior ministry. | There was no answer in response to calls placed to the the media centre of Egypt’s interior ministry. |
| Related: Egypt imposes anti-terror law that punishes 'false' reporting of attacks | Related: Egypt imposes anti-terror law that punishes 'false' reporting of attacks |
| An increase in insurgent attacks has taken place in Egypt in recent months. In late June, the country’s chief prosecutor was assassinated in a daylight bombing in the capital. | An increase in insurgent attacks has taken place in Egypt in recent months. In late June, the country’s chief prosecutor was assassinated in a daylight bombing in the capital. |
| Insurgents based in the Sinai Peninsula have launched attacks in Egypt for years. Those attacks accelerated in 2013 following the military’s removal of the elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. | Insurgents based in the Sinai Peninsula have launched attacks in Egypt for years. Those attacks accelerated in 2013 following the military’s removal of the elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. |
| Over the last two years, the insurgents have focused the majority of their attacks on Egypt’s police and military. In December 2013 a bombing partly destroyed a security headquarters in the Nile delta city of Mansoura, north of Cairo. In January 2014 a powerful bomb targeted the security directorate in Cairo. | Over the last two years, the insurgents have focused the majority of their attacks on Egypt’s police and military. In December 2013 a bombing partly destroyed a security headquarters in the Nile delta city of Mansoura, north of Cairo. In January 2014 a powerful bomb targeted the security directorate in Cairo. |
| Both attacks were claimed by Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, a Sinai-based armed group that later declared itself a branch of the Islamic State organisation. | Both attacks were claimed by Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, a Sinai-based armed group that later declared itself a branch of the Islamic State organisation. |
| Thursday’s explosion comes days after Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi signed into law new anti-terrorism legislation that critics say will muzzle political opponents and the news media. | Thursday’s explosion comes days after Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi signed into law new anti-terrorism legislation that critics say will muzzle political opponents and the news media. |
| The law establishes special courts, stipulates harsh penalties for offences defined as terrorism-related crimes, and imposes fines for journalists who contradict the state’s account of an attack. | The law establishes special courts, stipulates harsh penalties for offences defined as terrorism-related crimes, and imposes fines for journalists who contradict the state’s account of an attack. |