This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26851662
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Egypt crisis: Police chief dies in Cairo bombings | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A police brigadier-general has been killed as three bombs went off near Cairo university, Egyptian state media say. | |
At least five other people were injured in the attacks, authorities say. | |
The first two bombs went off within minutes of each other, with the third coming about two hours later. | |
Egypt has witnessed several attacks against government targets by militant groups, following the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood in July. | Egypt has witnessed several attacks against government targets by militant groups, following the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood in July. |
The latest explosions happened near a police post outside the university's faculty of engineering. | |
State TV named the officer as Tariq al-Mirjawi, the head of Giza's investigation department. | State TV named the officer as Tariq al-Mirjawi, the head of Giza's investigation department. |
"I was waiting for the bus when I heard two explosions. There was dust in the air and policemen were screaming" an eyewitness told AFP. | "I was waiting for the bus when I heard two explosions. There was dust in the air and policemen were screaming" an eyewitness told AFP. |
The third explosion took place as journalists and emergency workers attended the scene, but was reportedly much smaller than the first two and caused no casualties. | |
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo says the area around the university has become a battleground for clashes between police and Muslim Brotherhood supporters in recent weeks. | |
Crackdown | Crackdown |
The current government has outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, declaring it a terrorist organisation. | The current government has outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, declaring it a terrorist organisation. |
It accuses the movement of supporting attacks against the police and army - a claim the Brotherhood strongly denies. | It accuses the movement of supporting attacks against the police and army - a claim the Brotherhood strongly denies. |
Since the overthrow of the Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi, more than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands of members have been detained in a crackdown by the interim authorities. | Since the overthrow of the Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi, more than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands of members have been detained in a crackdown by the interim authorities. |
The government says militants have killed almost 500 people in the same time period, most of them policemen and soldiers. | The government says militants have killed almost 500 people in the same time period, most of them policemen and soldiers. |