Bomb blast in Cairo targets tourists

Police in Cairo cordoned off an area popular with tourists after a bomb attack killed one person and injured another 20.

The explosion, just after dark, struck the 14th century Khan el-Khalili market. First reports said four people were killed in the blast but Egypt’s health ministry has now confirmed that one person died – a French tourist. Among the wounded are 10 other French nationals, one German and three people from Saudi Arabia. Some of the injured are said to be in a serious condition. Mixed witness reports have claimed that the device was thrown from a motorbike while another report said two devices were thrown from a hotel roof. A second device was later found and defused by bomb disposal experts. Egypt relies heavily on tourism – it is the country’s top hard currency earner. Recently visitor levels had reached record levels. It was not clear who was behind the attack. Islamic militants have previously targeted foreign tourists.

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