A wave of bomb attacks hit Cairo yesterday, killing six people and raising fears that an Islamist insurgency in Egypt is gaining pace on the eve of the third anniversary of the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
The violence underscored the struggle the authorities have been facing since the army overthrew Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July.
In the most high-profile attack, a suicide car bomber struck a top security compound in central Cairo early in the morning and killed at least four people, security sources said.
President’s office said it would ‘avenge the deaths of the martyrs’ who died at the Security Directorate
A blast in the Dokki district killed one person and an explosion near a cinema on the road to the Pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo also led to a fatality.
Clashes in the capital and several other cities between Morsi supporters and security forces that killed 11 people also raised tensions in the biggest Arab nation.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the suicide attack in the Cairo Security Directorate car park.
Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi condemned the bloodshed in a statement, saying it was an attempt by “terrorist forces” to derail the army-backed government’s political road map, which is meant to lead to free and fair elections.
Later in the day, a military helicopter flew back and forth over central Cairo, underscoring concerns that another attack could occur at any time.
Authorities have been bracing for more violence during the anniversary of Mubarak’s fall, when rival political groups are expected to turn out, including supporters of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who ousted Morsi, as well as members of the Muslim Brotherhood and liberals.
The 2011 revolt raised hopes of establishing a stable democracy in the Arab world’s biggest nation.
Instead, relentless political turmoil has hit investment and tourism hard in Egypt. The dead from the first blast in the security headquarters included three policemen, security sources said.
The attack also heavily damaged the nearby Islamic Art Museum, an official told the state news agency.
In a statement, the office of President Adly Mansour said it would “avenge the deaths of the martyrs” who died at the Security Directorate and severely punish the perpetrators.