Car bomb goes off in central Cairo
Friday, 24 January 2014
A car bomb has exploded outside the police headquarters in Egypt's capital, killing four people and wounding 51, Egypt's health ministry says.
The powerful blast was felt across Cairo and black smoke could be seen rising over the city centre, reports BBC News on 24 January.
A second blast a couple of hours later in another part of Cairo killed at least one person and wounded 15.
The blasts come on the eve of the third anniversary of the start of the 2011 uprising.
The revolution brought about the removal of the country's decades-long ruler Hosni Mubarak.
No group has said it was behind the attacks.
They came a day after five policemen were shot dead by two gunmen on motorcycles at a checkpoint in Beni Suef province, south of Cairo.
Tense time
In the first incident, officials said a booby-trapped car exploded outside Cairo's security directorate.
Gunfire was reportedly heard soon afterwards.
More than 30 ambulances raced to the scene. Most of the wounded are now in hospital, the health ministry says.
There was extensive damage to the large concrete building with debris strewn across the street.
As people in Cairo were taking in news of the blast, a second explosion occurred in the Dokki district of the capital.