An explosive device was detonated outside Cairo University on Wednesday afternoon, reportedly resulting in ten injuries, including both police forces and civilians. No fatalities were reported. Local media reports indicate that several students and other suspects were arrested and are in currently in police custody for interrogations following the explosion.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for this explosion.
This is the second explosive device to be detonated by Cairo University this year.
On April 2, three explosive devices were detonated outside the same area of Cairo University – in front of the main gate – resulting in the death of one police officer, the injury of five others.
This previous attack was claimed by the jihadi Islamist group, Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt).
The state-owed Akhbar al-Youm portal reported that ten suspects were arrested in light of Wednesday’s explosion. Fearing the presence of additional explosive devices planted around the university, bomb squads were deployed around the campus to inspect the premises.
Security forces sealed-off most entrances and exits to the campus. Reports indicate that no further explosive devices were found.
The explosion is reported to have taken place nearby a security checkpoint, where riot police forces were deployed, outside the main gate of the campus.
According to the private Al-Fagr news portal, Wednesday’s explosive device had been planted inside a commercial billboard located near the security checkpoint outside Cairo University’s main entrance.
Al-Fagr, and other news outlets, described the explosive device as being “primitive.”
Citing sources from the Ministry of Interior, Reuters and Al-Fagr reported 10 injuries included six members of the police forces, including one brigadier general, along with four civilians.
This news portal, and the private Al-Wafd Newspaper, reported that 27 suspects were initially arrested, including bearded men, students, Egyptians, Syrians, and two Pakistanis.
Al-Fagr added that four suspects were released, while the rest were transported to the Giza Security Directorate for interrogations.
As with the triple bombing of April 2, today’s explosion comes in light of systematic crackdowns by security forces on student protests nationwide. There is no evidence suggesting student involvement in these detonations, however.
With the beginning of the academic year on October 11, police forces have arrested some 200 student protesters while tens of others have been injured. Omar Abdel Wahab, a student from Alexandria University is reported to have died on Tuesday from injuries sustained earlier during clashes on campus.
Unrest increased with the beginning of this academic year, as authorities have deployed the private security firm Falcon at several public universities nationwide, to screen and inspect students prior to their entrance through campus gates.
