Edition: English | 中文簡體 | 中文繁體 Монгол
Homepage > World Video

6 policemen killed in Egypt twin bomb attack

CCTV.com

12-11-2016 09:33 BJT

Six Egyptian policemen were killed and three wounded in a bomb attack on Friday, near the Pyramids area. A militant group called Hasm has claimed responsibility, and promised further attacks against security personnel. Another explosion followed later in the day, targeting a moving police car in Kafr EL Sheikh city.

Kafr EL Sheikh, a city north Cairo, the explosion injured one policeman. No one has claimed responsibility yet.

The Giza attack, was more alarming, not only because of the magnitude of the blast, but also because of the militant group Hasm which has claimed responsibility, .

"The group in newly formed, only in July 2016. But it seems that they have a timely pattern, almost every month, they make an attack. They mainly target security personnel," said Mostafa Amin, islamic groups researcher, Arab Centre for Studies.

"It seems from their statement and the people they targeted, that they have a sort of vengeance with specific people, and that could be because of the government crackdown on Islamists."

Authorities say the explosive material used were powerful, the blast diameter was nearly 30 meters.

The bomb was planted in Al Haram area, it's a middle class district, known to be a stronghold for the Muslim Brotherhood.

"It's a awful crime, but this is a routine spot for the police all over the week. They always do checkpoints here," Giza resident Hazem Helmy said.

"Why don't they search the place well before they set up. It's partly the responsibility of the security apparatuses for not being focused. I hope all of such attacks would end soon."

Because the check point location was fixed for a long time, it was easy for this group to plan its attack and make it successful. That's why experts are calling the interior ministry to change that strategy, and push for moving checkpoints across the capital.

"The group has monitored the check point for a long time obviously. Once they reach a pattern in the police behaviors, the rest becomes easy," Mostafa Amin said.

"They can then plant the bomb and detonated by numerous way, all of which they could learn about on the internet. The fixed location checkpoints, are a crisis for the interior ministry. The ministry must resolve this issue."

The authorities say that Hasm is affiliated to the Muslim brotherhood.

Since the Military ousted President Mohamed Morsi, a member of this group, in 2013, numerous deadly attacks have targeted security forces across the country.

Follow us on

  • Please scan the QR Code to follow us on Instagram

  • Please scan the QR Code to follow us on Wechat