|
 An al Qaeda-inspired group, based in Egypt's lawless Sinai
Peninsula, claimed responsibility for Friday's attacks which killed
six people, said the SITE monitoring organization.
No one was wounded in Saturday's explosion, said the interior
ministry, but more violence was expected as rival political
movements gather to mark the third anniversary of the uprising that
toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Islamist militants based in the Sinai Peninsula have stepped up
attacks since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim
Brotherhood in July. Hundreds of security forces have been killed.
Militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem)
claimed responsibility for the attacks, including a car bomb at a
security compound in central Cairo, in a message posted online, said
U.S.-based SITE.
The message told Muslims to stay away from "enemy headquarters and
security centers".
Last year, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for a failed
assassination attempt on the Interior Minister.
The army-backed government, along with state-run and most private
media, accuse Mursi's Brotherhood of carrying out terrorist attacks.
Authorities have tightened security around Cairo in anticipation of
trouble, as rival political factions plan to gather to mark the
anniversary of Mubarak's downfall.
Police and army have deployed heavily, and helicopters flew over a
ghostly quiet downtown Cairo on Saturday morning.
[to top of second column] |
Mohamed Saleh, A 63-year-old taxi driver said he planned to
commemorate 2011 revolt by going to Tahrir Square, the symbolic
heart of the uprising, but the square was tightly sealed off by
armored vehicles on Saturday morning.
"This was a complete popular uprising by the people," Saleh said,
recalling the historic 18 days of protests that led to Mubarak's
ouster. "It was protected by the army," he added.
Clashes in the capital and several other cities on Friday between
Mursi supporters and security forces killed 14 people, in another
sign of high tensions in the biggest Arab nation.
(Reporting by Sami Aboudi, Michael Georgy, and Sameh Bardisi;
Writing by Maggie Fick; editing by Michael Georgy and Andrew
Heavens)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
