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Egypt crisis: Police chief dies in Cairo bombings Egypt crisis: Police chief dies in Cairo bombings
(about 1 hour later)
A police brigadier-general has been killed as three bombs went off near Cairo university, Egyptian state media say. A police brigadier-general was killed when three bombs went off near Cairo university, Egyptian state media say.
At least five other people were injured in the attacks, authorities say. At least five other people were injured in the attacks, the authorities say.
The first two bombs went off within minutes of each other, with the third coming about two hours later.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 last July.
The latest explosions happened near a police post outside the university's faculty of engineering. The government says militants have killed almost 500 people since last summer, most of them policemen and soldiers.
There have been fears of an increase in violence in the run-up to the presidential election in May, correspondents report.
'Screaming' police
The latest explosions happened outside near a riot police post outside the main gate of the university's faculty of engineering.
Officials said police had been the targets of the blasts, which were reported to have been caused by improvised explosive devices.
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 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. The BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo says the area around the university has become a battleground for clashes between police and student supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood in recent weeks.
Crackdown The military-backed interim government outlawed the movement at the end of last year, 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-linked President 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.