Report: ISIS Claims Responsibility for Car Bomb Attack in Cairo

The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS) has claimed it orchestrated a car bomb attack in Cairo early on Thursday that injured at least 29 people, CNN reports.

Citing anonymous security sources, The Sydney Morning Herald notes that the car bomb exploded in front of a police building in Cairo, marking the latest in a wave of militant attacks targeting police officers and soldiers.

“The powerful blast in northern Cairo’s northern district of Shubra al-Kheima came in the middle of the night, at a time when Egyptian security forces are being targeted by an Islamic State insurgency,” reports the Herald.

“A man suddenly stopped his car in front of the state security building, jumped out of it and fled on a motorbike that followed the car,” authorities reportedly said in a statement.

The Interior Ministry said at least 29 people were wounded, including six police officers, CNN reports.

In claiming responsibility for the attack via Twitter, ISIS said it was retribution for the execution of six defendants in the Arab Sharkas case in May 2015, adds CNN.

According to Human Rights Watch, the six men, along with three others, were convicted in 2014 for attacking security forces and killing two military officers in a shootout.

Egypt’s Health Ministry reportedly said the car bomb attack took place near the National Security Building.

“Video revealed at least one building facade nearly defaced, cars mangled, and heavy concrete street barriers knocked over near the bomb site,” notes CNN.

Sinai Peninsula-based militants who support ISIS, namely members of the Islamist militant group Anbar Beit al-Maqdis, have claimed responsibility for recent attacks on Egyptian security forces.

“In recent months, militants have increasingly launched brazen and deadly attacks. The frequency of attacks picked up after Egypt’s army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi — a former Muslim Brotherhood leader — following a popular uprising in July 2013,” notes CNN.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi signed a tough counterterrorism law earlier this week, giving Egyptian security forces extensive surveillance and detention powers.