Egyptian police brigadier-general killed as three bombs explode outside Cairo campus
Egyptians inspect the damage after twin bombs struck police posts near Cairo University Photo: AFP
Source : by Olivia Nwabali and agencies
Three bombs exploded outside Cairo University on Wednesday, killing a police general and leaving several injured.
Two roadside bombs were detonated in quick succession outside the university's engineering faculty, killing Brigadier General Tarek al-Mergawi.
The third bomb struck close to the main gates, where police investigators and journalists had gathered, causing no casualties.
After the bombing, police chased and detained several students on the streets nearby. There was no immediate confirmation on the number of arrests.
A police general at the scene told AFP that a tree, between two small police posts, was used to conceal the two initial explosives. Egyptian state TV said that the bombs were home made.
Security officials and state television reported that a fourth bomb was found in a car park close to the university and was defused.
The bombings were the latest in a campaign of attacks targeting Egypt's police and military that began with the ousting last summer of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Major General Abdel Raouf al-Serafi, an assistant interior minister, was among the wounded.
A student named Amr Adel described how he fled the University after hearing the blasts only to find " … a lifeless man in plain clothes and a policeman bleeding from his leg".
The attacks are taking place amid a fierce crackdown by security forces against pro-Morsi protesters and members of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
Violence is expected to escalate in Cairo as the May presidential elections, the second in less than two years, approach.
"We expect trouble for the long term. How can the police protect us when they can't even protect themselves? It is not possible," remarked student Mohamed Abdel Aziz outside of Cairo University today.
Egyptians inspect the damage after twin bombs struck police posts near Cairo University Photo: AFP
Source : by Olivia Nwabali and agencies
Three bombs exploded outside Cairo University on Wednesday, killing a police general and leaving several injured.
Two roadside bombs were detonated in quick succession outside the university's engineering faculty, killing Brigadier General Tarek al-Mergawi.
The third bomb struck close to the main gates, where police investigators and journalists had gathered, causing no casualties.
After the bombing, police chased and detained several students on the streets nearby. There was no immediate confirmation on the number of arrests.
A police general at the scene told AFP that a tree, between two small police posts, was used to conceal the two initial explosives. Egyptian state TV said that the bombs were home made.
Security officials and state television reported that a fourth bomb was found in a car park close to the university and was defused.
The bombings were the latest in a campaign of attacks targeting Egypt's police and military that began with the ousting last summer of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Major General Abdel Raouf al-Serafi, an assistant interior minister, was among the wounded.
A student named Amr Adel described how he fled the University after hearing the blasts only to find " … a lifeless man in plain clothes and a policeman bleeding from his leg".
The attacks are taking place amid a fierce crackdown by security forces against pro-Morsi protesters and members of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
Violence is expected to escalate in Cairo as the May presidential elections, the second in less than two years, approach.
"We expect trouble for the long term. How can the police protect us when they can't even protect themselves? It is not possible," remarked student Mohamed Abdel Aziz outside of Cairo University today.
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