EGYPT – There has been a large car bomb explosion in the Egyptian capital Cairo, near the city’s police headquarters, officials say.
More photo from the bombing pic.twitter.com/tQ294fq7dl
— Magdy Samaan (@MagdySamaan) January 24, 2014
At least three people were killed and more than 30 wounded, according to officials.
Eyewitnesses speak of smoke rising over the city centre, and there are reports of gunfire after the blast.
Newspaper reports say the front of the police building has been damaged and emergency services are at the scene.
The blast comes on the eve of the anniversary of the beginning of the 2011 uprising that led to the removal of the country’s long-serving ruler Hosni Mubarak.
Correspondents say that the banned Muslim Brotherhood and its partners are planning protests after Friday prayers across the country, the latest in a series of regular demonstrations against the overthrow in July of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Brotherhood supporters are also angry over recent moves to introduce a new constitution. (link)
#Egypt update: At least 2 killed and 47 others wounded in central Cairo explosion http://t.co/qVi8kuY7EV
— CNN International (@cnni) January 24, 2014
#Cairo Indefinite number of victims so far, there are 3 corpse in Ahmed Maher hospital near the bombing
— Magdy Samaan (@MagdySamaan) January 24, 2014
#cairo the effect of the Explosion Extends to about 500 meters. Glass of the nearby shops were crash
— Magdy Samaan (@MagdySamaan) January 24, 2014
#Cairobomb Two men in a motorcycle open fire from a machine gun right after the bombing. They fired randomly and run away.
— Magdy Samaan (@MagdySamaan) January 24, 2014