Deadly vehicle Bomb Attack On Italian Consulate In Egyptian Capital

A powerful explosion ripped through the Italian consulate in central Cairo early on Saturday, partly damaging the building and killing one person.

Health ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said Saturday’s blast killed a civilian and wounded nine people, including policemen and passers-by.

The message claiming responsibility for the bombing was signed “Islamic State in Egypt”, and said the vehicle contained 990 pounds of explosives, according to the AP.

The Italian foreign minister said his country will not be intimidated by the deadly bombing of its consulate, AFP reported. The ISIS affiliate in Egypt had previously called itself Sinai Province, and it wasn’t immediately clear if the claim was from a new branch of the extremist network.

Italy hosted President el-Sissi’s first official visit to Europe late previous year, and the Italian Consulate building also housed a restaurant popular among Westerners and Cairenes.

“We advise Muslims to stay away from these security dens, because they are legitimate targets for strikes of the mujahedeen”, the statement added.

People gather at the site of an explosion near the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, on July 11, 2015.

It heavily damaged the building which is based in one of the busiest intersections in Cairo, a major artery that connects Ramsis Square to the heart of downtown Cairo.

“We stand by the Egyptian authorities in their efforts to fight terrorism and bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice”.

The Egyptian government has blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for much of the violence that has torn through the country since the military seized power in a coup.

The army said 17 soldiers and more than 100 militants were killed in those clashes. Just days after a massacre in Tunisia, the group took responsibility for an attack to the east of the failed state of Libya.

Militants in Egypt have killed at least 600 police and armed forces personnel in the past two years.

Security officials have said under the condition of anonymity may have been a auto blast but this is yet to be confirmed.

Hours after the blast, guests on state television were calling for Mr Sisi to move strongly against the militants, and prominent Egyptian editor Moustafa Bakry used his Twitter account to suggest that a reimposition of emergency law may finally be necessary.

Police ringed off the area with tape before investigators arrived.