One killed and four injured in car bomb blast outside Italian consulate in Cairo

  • One killed in massive explosion rocked Italian consulate in Cairo, Egypt
  • The blast occurred about 6.30am local time, when the building was closed
  • Early investigations suggest the explosion was caused by a car bomb
  • Italian Prime Minister has vowed to work with Egypt to stop terror attacks 

One person has been killed and four others injured after a massive explosion outside the Italian Consulate in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

Preliminary investigations indicated the detonation was caused by a bomb placed underneath a car near the consulate and was remotely detonated, blasting through several floors of the historic building.

The victim, an Egyptian, was standing close to the bomb and had several of his limbs blown off.

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Damage: The bomb caused extensive damage to the building and ruptured underground water pipes, which led to flooding in the area. Traffic chaose around one of Cairo's busiest intersections then ensued

Damage: The bomb caused extensive damage to the building and ruptured underground water pipes, which led to flooding in the area. Traffic chaose around one of Cairo's busiest intersections then ensued

Blast: A deadly attack at the Italian Consulate in Cairo has killed one person and left four others injured

Blast: A deadly attack at the Italian Consulate in Cairo has killed one person and left four others injured

Guard: Among the four people injured was a police officer, who was standing near the consulate in Cairo

Guard: Among the four people injured was a police officer, who was standing near the consulate in Cairo

Attack: Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni confirmed the fatality was not an Italian national, and added that his country would not be intimiated by the attack. It is not yet known who was behind the bombing

Attack: Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni confirmed the fatality was not an Italian national, and added that his country would not be intimiated by the attack. It is not yet known who was behind the bombing

As yet no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. 

Medics who rushed to the scene told reporters on the ground that two policemen standing outside the consulate and passers-by were also wounded. 

Ahmed Hasan, 20, suffered minor cuts to his leg in the explosion, which happened as he slept in a neighbouring house.

'I was sleeping when the explosion went off, it blew in my window and when I went outside the air was full of dust' the 20-year-old said, adding he saw someone with a severed leg.

The blast occurred about 6.30am local time, when the consulate was closed, but the area would have been crowded with cars and pedestrians.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has contacted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and expressed Italy's support for Egypt's fight against terrorism.

'Italy knows that terrorism is an enormous challenge that deeply marks history in our time,' Renzi told el-Sissi Saturday morning, according to a statement from Renzi's office. 

'We will not leave Egypt alone: Italy and Egypt are and will always be together in the fight against terrorism.'

Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni confirmed there had been a bombing at the country's consulate in Cairo.

He wrote on Twitter: 'There were no Italian victims. Our thoughts are with the people affected and and with our employees. 

Shock: The blast occurred about 6.30am local time, when the consulate was closed, but the area would have been crowded with cars and pedestrians, and blew out windows in surrounding properties

Shock: The blast occurred about 6.30am local time, when the consulate was closed, but the area would have been crowded with cars and pedestrians, and blew out windows in surrounding properties

Rocked: Egypt has suffered a increasing wave of violence in recent weeks, with the country's chief prosecutor killed less than two weeks ago in an explosion near his home in Cairo as he was heading to work

Rocked: Egypt has suffered a increasing wave of violence in recent weeks, with the country's chief prosecutor killed less than two weeks ago in an explosion near his home in Cairo as he was heading to work

'Italy is not intimidated.' 

The explosion caused massive damage to the building, ruptured underground water pipes that flooded the area, and caused traffic chaos at one of Cairo's busiest intersections, a major artery which connects Ramsis Square to the heart of downtown.

A number of images claiming to have been taken at the scene were published on social media. They showed large clouds of smoke over the city's skyline and the scale of destruction caused by the blast.

Social media pictures also showed crowds of locals gathered near the scene where the blast occurred.

Destruction: Egyptian security forces inspect the area behind a security cordon following the explosion

Destruction: Egyptian security forces inspect the area behind a security cordon following the explosion

Egypt has been witnessing a rising wave of violence in recent weeks. 

Less than two weeks ago, the country's chief prosecutor was killed in an explosion near his home in Cairo as he was heading to work. 

Days later, militants waged a coordinated and protracted attack on military installations in the restive northern Sinai province, leaving at least 17 soldiers dead in one of the most brazen attacks on troops in the area. 

Islamist militants have orchestrated a number of roadside explosions and suicide bombing attacks which have so far targeted members of the security forces and officials.

The latest incident also follows deadly terror attack in nearby Tunisia last month, which left 38 people - including 30 Britons - dead. 

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