Egypt: Two wounded as four explosions hit Cairo's subway stations

Cairo: Four minor explosions struck subway stations in Cairo on Wednesday, wounding two people and causing widespread panic among morning commuters, officials said.

The blasts, which were caused by homemade explosive devices, took place at four different stations in central and northern Cairo, in the teeming neighborhoods of Ghamra and Shubra el-Khemia.

Police quickly descended on the scene, sealing off stations and using sniffer dogs to search for more explosives, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks — the first in the Egyptian capital since last month’s election of former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi as the country’s new president.

El-Sisi led the military’s ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi after millions demonstrated against him in the streets last July. Since Morsi’s ouster, his supporters have staged near-daily protests demanding his return to power. Such demonstrations have usually descended into violence.

Security forces have killed hundreds and detained thousands of Morsi’s supporters and in return, Islamic militants have stepped up attacks against the military and police across Egypt.

An al-Qaida-inspired group based in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the major attacks, including suicide bombings and attempted assassinations of top security officials. However, other groups believed to be connected to Morsi’s supporters have claimed responsibility for smaller attacks, which have mainly targeted riot police heading to disperse protesters.

AP