The Post

Bystander killed in bomb blast targeting police

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A ROADSIDE bomb near Egypt’s second largest city, Alexandria, killed a bystander and injured two others yesterday, while authoritie­s defused two more explosives at Cairo Internatio­nal Airport, officials said.

The latest reports are part of recent spike in small bombs being planted around Egypt. Many of the devices have been so-called flash-bang grenades, designed to sow panic but cause minimal damage or casualties. The larger and deadlier bombs have been targeted almost exclusivel­y at members Egyptian police and army.

Islamic militant groups have vowed to target police and military troops to avenge their crackdown on Islamists in the wake of the ousting of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

A popular smartphone applicatio­n designed to provide informatio­n on traffic jams started a new service last week entitled ‘‘Where is the bomb’’ to alert commuters of reports of roadside explosives.

Yesterday’s roadside bombing was a rare incident of a civilian killed by these

of

the rudimentar­y explosives. The officials said the bomb was targeting a police patrol driving in the beachfront town of Agamy, on the western outskirts of Alexandria. The bomb went off, apparently detonated remotely, as the vehicles moved – injuring a street peddler, his son and a bystander. The bystander later died of his wounds, officials said.

In Cairo, officials said a bomb was planted in the airport arrival hall of the terminal hosting EgyptAir. Another was planted near a police patrol location in the airport’s parking lot. Both were defused.

reported that the parents live in an expensive neighbourh­ood not far from the restaurant.

The children, who were not physically harmed, were placed in protective custody.

Their parents were barred from seeing them before a court date on February 18.

 ?? Photo: REUTERS ?? Blast aftermath: A man walks past debris from a damaged shop after a blast hit central Cairo.
Photo: REUTERS Blast aftermath: A man walks past debris from a damaged shop after a blast hit central Cairo.

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