Egypt metro station blast injures passerby

Two bombs were diffused at station in eastern Cairo, in the latest of a series of blasts rocking the capital.

Egypt is grappling with an upsurge in attacks by armed groups, mainly targeting security forces [Reuters]

A suspected homemade bomb at a tram station in eastern Cairo has wounded at least one person, while explosives experts succeeded in detonating another two bombs at the site before they exploded.

State-run Ahram Gate newspaper reported on Saturday that two improvised explosive devises were found at al-Marghani metro station by guards, when one took off injuring a passer-by. No deaths were reported.

Since the military ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July, fighters have stepped up attacks against the security forces in Egypt, killing scores of soldiers and policemen.

However, attacks on civilian targets have been extremely rare.

At least four people were killed on February 16 when a tourist bus in Egypt’s Sinai region was hit by an explosion near the Israeli border. Thirteen people were injured in the attack, for which the al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar Beit al-Madis has claimed responsibility.

The Sina-based armed group has claimed responsibility for high-profile attacks including an assassination attempt on Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim in November, as well the downing of a military helicopter in the peninsula.

Around 300 police and army personnel have been killed in attacks across Egypt since July.

Fourteen police officers were killed on December 24 when a police headquarters in the city of al-Mansoura was hit by a blast. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood was blamed for the attack and tagged a “terrorist group” by the government a day later.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis later claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Sinai-based group said the attacks were in revenge for a deadly crackdown by the security forces on Morsi supporters.

More than 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown, according to Amnesty International. Thousands have also been jailed.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies