Six policemen killed in deadly Cairo bombing near pyramids

A bombing targeted a checkpoint in the Giza district of the Egyptian capital close to the city's famous pyramids

1 min read

09 December, 2016

Egypt - Cairo bombings

Six policemen were killed in a reported double bomb attack at a security checkpoint close outside a mosque close to Egypt's famous pyramids on Friday.

According to security sources the attacks took place close to the Salam mosque on al-Haram street in the Talbiye neighbourhood of Cairo's southern Giza district, with one bomb placed in a garden in front of the mosque, and a second placed beside a nearby tree.

At least six others were injured in the attack, including both further police personnel and civilians. The attack took place during Friday prayers when Cairo's streets are mostly empty.

A further four people were reportedly injured in the attack, reported al-Mosry al-Yom and other local media outlets.

Security forces in Giza have since cordoned the blast site off.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, although accusations have been levelled towards Liwa al-Thawra and Ajnad Misr, both Egyptian militant groups that have carried out attacks targeting state personnel in the past two years.

Although instability in Egypt has seen tourism revenues drop dramatically since the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 the pyramids remain a popular tourist attraction, with hundreds of foreigners visiting the site everyday.