CAIRO: A bomb exploded near a police academy in Cairo on Saturday, security sources said, a day after a wave of deadly blasts raised fears that an Islamist insurgency was gaining momentum.
An al Qaeda-inspired group, based in Egypt’s lawless Sinai Peninsula, claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attacks which killed six people, said the SITE monitoring organisation.
No one was wounded in today’s explosion, said the interior ministry, but more violence was expected as rival political movements gather to mark the third anniversary of the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Islamist militants based in the Sinai Peninsula have stepped up attacks since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July. Hundreds of security forces have been killed.
Militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem) claimed responsibility for the attacks, including a car bomb at a security compound in central Cairo, in a message posted online, said U.S.-based SITE.
The message told Muslims to stay away from ‘enemy headquarters and security centres’.
Last year, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt on the Interior Minister.
The army-backed government, along with state-run and most private media, accuse Mursi’s Brotherhood of carrying out terrorist attacks.
Authorities have tightened security around Cairo in anticipation of trouble, as rival political factions plan to gather to mark the anniversary of Mubarak’s downfall.
Police and army have deployed heavily, and helicopters flew over a ghostly quiet downtown Cairo yesterday morning.
Mohamed Saleh, A 63-year-old taxi driver said he planned to commemorate 2011 revolt by going to Tahrir Square, the symbolic heart of the uprising, but the square was tightly sealed off by armoured vehicles today morning.
‘This was a complete popular uprising by the people,’ Saleh said, recalling the historic 18 days of protests that led to Mubarak’s ouster. ‘It was protected by the army,’ he added.
Clashes in the capital and several other cities yesterday between Mursi supporters and security forces killed 14 people, in another sign of high tensions in the biggest Arab nation. (REUTERS )
