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Egypt's Minister Mohammed Ibrahim survives bomb attack | Egypt's Minister Mohammed Ibrahim survives bomb attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Egypt's Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim has survived a bomb attack that targeted his convoy in Cairo. | Egypt's Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim has survived a bomb attack that targeted his convoy in Cairo. |
Hours later, he appeared unharmed on state TV to denounce the attack as a "cowardly assassination bid". | Hours later, he appeared unharmed on state TV to denounce the attack as a "cowardly assassination bid". |
Security guards and a child were among the injured in the attack, which took place near his home in Nasr City. | Security guards and a child were among the injured in the attack, which took place near his home in Nasr City. |
No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Muslim Brotherhood leader Amr Darrag said the group "strongly condemned" what happened. | No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Muslim Brotherhood leader Amr Darrag said the group "strongly condemned" what happened. |
Mr Ibrahim heads the police force which has carried out a crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood protests in recent weeks. | |
Nasr City is a stronghold of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group. | Nasr City is a stronghold of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group. |
'Foiled assassination bid' | 'Foiled assassination bid' |
The explosion took place at about 10:30 local time (08:30 GMT) as Mr Ibrahim was being driven from his home to work. | The explosion took place at about 10:30 local time (08:30 GMT) as Mr Ibrahim was being driven from his home to work. |
The minister told state television that his convoy was targeted by a "large" explosive device that might have been detonated by remote control. | The minister told state television that his convoy was targeted by a "large" explosive device that might have been detonated by remote control. |
"It destroyed four of the vehicles of my protection team, with many shops in the area badly affected along with a vehicle of civilians and a small child who had a leg amputated," he said. | |
"I have an officer with serious injuries and another officer with a leg amputation. There were many injuries amongst my guards." | |
State media said at least eight people had been injured. | |
There were conflicting reports over the source of the explosion, with state-run Mena news agency saying a booby-trapped car had detonated as the minister's convoy passed by. | There were conflicting reports over the source of the explosion, with state-run Mena news agency saying a booby-trapped car had detonated as the minister's convoy passed by. |
State TV, however, said an explosive device was thrown at the convoy from the top of a nearby building just after it left his place of residence. | State TV, however, said an explosive device was thrown at the convoy from the top of a nearby building just after it left his place of residence. |
Pictures uploaded to the internet by witnesses showed substantial damage to a building next to the blast. | Pictures uploaded to the internet by witnesses showed substantial damage to a building next to the blast. |
One passer-by said the explosion could be "heard from afar". | One passer-by said the explosion could be "heard from afar". |
"As you can see, cars from the minister's convoy were destroyed and his security people took him to an armoured vehicle that transported him back to his house," he said. | "As you can see, cars from the minister's convoy were destroyed and his security people took him to an armoured vehicle that transported him back to his house," he said. |
The Egyptian interior ministry said an attempt to assassinate the interior minister by "terrorist groups" had been foiled, adding that his guards had confronted and killed two of the attackers. | The Egyptian interior ministry said an attempt to assassinate the interior minister by "terrorist groups" had been foiled, adding that his guards had confronted and killed two of the attackers. |
"We are back to the terrorism of the 1980s," a ministry statement read. An investigation team has moved to the scene of the incident, it added. | "We are back to the terrorism of the 1980s," a ministry statement read. An investigation team has moved to the scene of the incident, it added. |
Hundreds of arrests | |
This is the first attack targeting such a high-ranking government official as Egypt remains in turmoil over a showdown between the military-backed government and the Muslim Brotherhood. | This is the first attack targeting such a high-ranking government official as Egypt remains in turmoil over a showdown between the military-backed government and the Muslim Brotherhood. |
The police force, alongside security forces, carried out a deadly security crackdown in the capital last month, clearing two protest camps set up by Muslim Brotherhood supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. | The police force, alongside security forces, carried out a deadly security crackdown in the capital last month, clearing two protest camps set up by Muslim Brotherhood supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. |
They had rallied for six weeks demanding the reinstatement of Mr Morsi, who was deposed by the military two months ago following anti-government protests by millions of Egyptians. | They had rallied for six weeks demanding the reinstatement of Mr Morsi, who was deposed by the military two months ago following anti-government protests by millions of Egyptians. |
Nasr City was the site of the larger of the two protest camps based outside Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, which was dismantled in the security operation that killed hundreds of Brotherhood supporters on 14 August. | Nasr City was the site of the larger of the two protest camps based outside Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, which was dismantled in the security operation that killed hundreds of Brotherhood supporters on 14 August. |
The BBC's Bethany Bell says there has been a lot of Muslim Brotherhood activity in the area over the last couple of weeks. | The BBC's Bethany Bell says there has been a lot of Muslim Brotherhood activity in the area over the last couple of weeks. |
Since the security clampdown, hundreds of Brotherhood supporters have been detained, including the group's most senior leader, Mohammed Badie, and his deputy, Khairat al-Shatir. | Since the security clampdown, hundreds of Brotherhood supporters have been detained, including the group's most senior leader, Mohammed Badie, and his deputy, Khairat al-Shatir. |
Mr Morsi is currently being held in a secret location awaiting trial on charges of inciting murder during anti-government protests that occurred in December 2012. | Mr Morsi is currently being held in a secret location awaiting trial on charges of inciting murder during anti-government protests that occurred in December 2012. |