Plane breaking sound barrier causes panic in Cairo

[July 06, 2011]  CAIRO (AP) -- A sonic boom over Cairo has caused jitters around the Egyptian capital, where many residents called emergency services to report what they thought were explosions.

State television reported Wednesday that an airplane breaking the sound barrier was the cause of loud booms that shook buildings over large parts of the city of 18 million. Sonic booms are rare in Cairo.

Egypt has been in turmoil since the uprising that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak in February. There have since been sporadic protests, riots, clashes and a marked deterioration in security with fewer police on the streets.

[Associated Press]

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