A CAR
bomb exploded in
Egypt today - killing a policeman and wounding four others - in an attempt to kill
Alexandria's security chief.
The car bomb exploded in the holiday hotspot of Alexandria - Egypt’s second city, the interior ministry said.
The bombing was reported to have targeted the director of Alexandria Security's convoy as it drove through the Roshdy district of Alexandria, eXtra news reported.
A spokesman for the Interior ministry said that the bombing had taken place after an improvised explosive device was placed under a car and detonated as the security director’s convoy was passing in Al-Moaskar Al-Romany Street in central Alexandria.
It is not yet known if the security director was hurt in the attack.
Emergency services have rushed to the scene in a bid to help the wounded.
It is not yet known if the attack is terror related. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The bomb exploded into a massive fireball, sending smoke billowing into the air, near the Tolip Hotel in Stanley, a neighbourhood in the coastal town.
Eyewitnesses posted photos of smoke rising from the
explosion site on social media site, Twitter.
Crowds of people appeared to be running away from the scene, shortly after the explosion.
A large crowd of men then gathered at a safe distance from the the blast area, photos from Twitter show.
Video from the scene, by 24 Live, appears to show the Egyptian security services examining the burnt out shell of a car.
The civil protection forces and security officials are on the scene, combing the area for information on the attack.
Eyewitnesses said police and military personnel formed a perimeter around the site of the explosion, which took place two days before the country is due to hold a presidential election.
Eyewitness, Rania, @RaniaKey posted on Twitter: “It's so scary that the sound of the explosion reaches your doorstep.”
Local resident, Amro Ali, @amroali took to Twitter to reassure friends he was okay.
He tweeted: “Friends, I'm ok. The tragic Alexandria bombing was not far from my place but people in my area seem to be going on with daily life. Because how many more layers of depression can you even add to an already depressed society?”
The civil protection forces and security officials are on the scene, combing the area for information on the attack.
Eyewitnesses said police and military personnel formed a perimeter around the site of the explosion, which took place two days before the country is due to hold a presidential election.
Eyewitness, Rania, @RaniaKey posted on Twitter: “It's so scary that the sound of the explosion reaches your doorstep.”
Local resident, Amro Ali, @amroali took to Twitter to reassure friends he was okay.
He tweeted: “Friends, I'm ok. The tragic Alexandria bombing was not far from my place but people in my area seem to be going on with daily life. Because how many more layers of depression can you even add to an already depressed society?”
It also comes during a massive security campaign targeting Islamic militants in the restive north Sinai Peninsula and other areas.