One killed in Egypt’s Alexandria as bomb explodes in car

It follows the arrest of 516 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday, in the biggest sweep since President El Sisi came to power in June.

CAIRO // One person was killed and another two wounded on Tuesday when a bomb they were carrying in a car exploded in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

An official said the men belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egyptian authorities have regularly accused the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood of launching deadly attacks since the army ousted president Mohammed Morsi in 2013, a charge denied by the movement.

Such attacks have often been claimed by extremist groups as retaliation for a government crackdown against Morsi’s supporters that has left hundreds dead.

Interior ministry spokesman Hani Abdel Latif said that Tuesday’s incident occurred in Alexandria’s eastern district of Montaza.

“Three terrorist elements from the Muslim Brotherhood were carrying the bomb in the car they were driving when it exploded,” Abdel Latif said.

Tensions have been high in Egypt after clashes between protesters and security forces erupted in Cairo and Alexandria on Sunday as the country marked the fourth anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.

Nineteen people were killed in Cairo in Sunday’s clashes – mostly anti-government protesters – while one was reported dead in Alexandria.

Police arrested 516 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday, in the biggest sweep since President Abdel Fattah El Sisi came to power in June.

Morsi was ousted in July 2013 by Mr El Sisi, the then army chief, after millions protested against his one-year rule.

* Agence France-Presse