The Egyptian capital of Cairo has been shaken by a massive explosion. The blast, originating from a car bomb detonated right next to the city’s police headquarters, was powerful enough to destroy much of the structure of the building.
Egypt’s health ministry reports at least 4 killed and 51 injured. The blast also damaged the nearby Islamic Museum and National Library.
The bombing, which took place at 6:30 a.m., left the center of Cairo enveloped in smoke, reports Al Arabiya. Gunshots were also reported to have been heard in nearby buildings following the explosion.
A second explosion was later reported in Cairo’s Dokki district, targeting a subway station.
The bombings come a day before the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak. On Thursday, 5 policemen were shot dead by masked gunmen on motorcycles.
The attacks also come on the heels of a constitutional referendum that passed overwhelmingly last Thursday, which promised a “democratic transition” by the interim military government, and which was boycotted by ousted President Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood.
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The vote stirred up the conflict anew between the military and the Brotherhood, as terrorists in Sinai blew up a gas pipeline immediately afterwards.
Army Chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took the referendum as a vote of confidence for his presidential bid, that was recently backed by Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi.