3 die in Giza when car bomb detonates by mistake

A car bomb killed three people in a Giza village early Wednesday morning, reported the privately owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm (AMAY).

Al-Shorafa village residents were awaken by the sound of an explosion at 3:30 am, according to the newspaper. The explosive device purportedly detonated by accident in the car — an unlicensed white Mazda — instantly killing two passengers in the vehicle. The third died after being transported to the hospital, according to AMAY.

A security source told AMAY that preliminary investigations suggested the deceased were intending to perpetrate an attack on police forces.  

The three men, all in their 30s, have been identified by security forces, according to the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper. They were reportedly all residents of the Atfih village south of Giza.

The newspaper alleged the men belonged to a terrorist cell responsible for attacking Giza police forces with homemade bombs. They were purportedly on a wanted list for assisting in the bombing of the October 6 Phone Central Station earlier this month, said Al-Ahram.

Security forces apprehended another car loaded with explosives in Giza on Wednesday morning, according to Al-Ahram. The driver of the vehicle has reportedly been detained and is being interrogated.

The car was pulled over after it drove down the agricultural road and passed through an area being searched by the police in the aftermath of this morning’s bombing.

Police suspect the driver of also being en route to execute a terrorist attack.