The Muslim Brotherhood has condemned a car bomb attack at a security compound in Egypt’s Nile Delta that has killed at least 14 people and injured more than 100 others.
Yet many at the scene of the blast in the city of Mansoura blame ousted premier Mohamed Mursi’s group for the bloodshed.
As Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim inspected the damage, a statement from the military-backed government branded the Brotherhood a “terrorist organisation”, although it did not explicitly accuse the group of staging the bombing.
Lethal attacks on the security forces have become commonplace in Egypt since the army removed Mursi in July.
But our correspondent at the scene, Mohammed Shaikhibrahim, stressed that this blast was particularly devastating, given the amount of explosives used which destroyed not only much of the compound but also neighbouring buildings.
While at least eight of the dead were police officers, local people, their homes and businesses have felt the full horror of what the army has called a “vile terrorist operation”. Authorities say it won’t derail a political transition plan.
No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack. But as Egypt deals with its latest bout of violence, at least four people have already been arrested.
