Egypt blast kills 3, injures 16

With the death of a policeman, the toll in a bomb blast outside a bank in Egypt today rose to three.

The explosion in Mahalla el-Kobra city of Gharbia governorate yesterday had killed two and injured 16 others, officials said.

One of the dead yesterday was a 25-year-old policeman who died of his injuries in hospital, they said. The other was a civilian.

Those injured in the blast were being treated at an area hospital.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and have launched a probe into the incident.

Egypt has often witnessed violent militant attacks since the January 2011 revolution that toppled the government of former strongman Hosni Mubarak. But the attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. More than 500 security personnel have perished in attacks since then.

In January, 32 people were killed and dozens others injured in attacks in Al-Arish city in the restive North Sinai region.

The Egyptian military has launched campaigns in the area to arrest suspects and demolish houses of terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.

Egypt has witnessed many attacks targeting police and military personnel as well as civilians in the recent period.

The attacks have increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Over 500 policemen and soldiers, have been killed in the attacks.