Middle East

OIC, Qatar condemn Cairo bomb attack

At least three police officers were killed when militant detonated device in Egyptian capital

19.02.2019 - Update : 21.02.2019
OIC, Qatar condemn Cairo bomb attack Egyptian police inspect the scene of a suicide bombing after an explosion rocked Egypt's capital, Cairo, when a man blew himself up behind Al-Azhar mosque, on February 19, 2019.

DOHA 

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Qatar on Tuesday condemned a suicide bombing in Egypt’s capital that killed three police officers. 

In a statement, OIC Secretary-General Yousef al-Othaimeen stressed the pan-Muslim grouping's solidarity with Egypt in the face of terrorism. 

"Such criminal acts will only increase the strength and determination of Egypt and the Egyptians to eliminate terrorist groups," al-Othaimeen said. 

Qatar also strongly condemned the attack. 

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry affirmed Qatar's "constant stance rejecting violence and terrorism" and offered condolences to the families of the victims and the Egyptian people. 

Late Monday, two police officers were killed and another two were injured when a militant detonated an explosive device in Cairo’s old Islamic district close to Al Azhar mosque, according to Egypt’s Interior Ministry.

The ministry said Tuesday in a statement that the death toll had risen to three after a police officer died of his wounds.

The attack occurred as security forces were pursuing the militant. 

According to a report by local news site Egypt Today, security forces identified the attacker as Al Hasan Abdullah, 37. 

The suspect was allegedly involved in an attack in Giza province last Friday in which an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted near a mosque. 

Relations between Egypt and Qatar have been strained since 2013, when the military deposed Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president, who was backed by Doha. 

In mid-2017, Egypt joined a Saudi-led bloc in severing diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism, a claim vehemently denied by Qatar.

Reporting by Ahmed Yusuf, Viola Fahmy: Writing by Mahmoud Barakat, Jeyhun Aliyev


Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.