Update: 1 killed, 5 critically injured in explosion outside Tanta police facility

Low-ranking police officer Mohamed Nofal died Saturday night from his injuries after an explosion targeting a police training facility in Gharbiya’s Tanta city on Friday.

Islamic militant group Lewaa al-Thawra claimed responsibility for the attack, which left 16 people injured, including Nofal and three civilian passersby. Five of the injured remain in critical condition, while six were discharged from hospital after receiving treatment.

A motorbike parked in front of the police facility exploded, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry.

Earlier this week Lewaa al-Thawra released footage of four of the group's “martyrs,” pledging to continue its operations in Egypt.

The explosion was also reported by Facebook page “Resistance Media,” which publishes news of operations by both Hassm and Lewaa al-Thawra militant groups.

Last week Hassm claimed responsibility for an explosion that targeted a security patrol in Qalyubiya. While the group claimed the explosion resulted in five critical injuries and the destruction of a vehicle, the police denied anyone was injured. The attack was described by Ahmed Kamel al-Beheiry, a researcher at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, as a "tactical development."

“Planting explosives along a security patrol’s route — this is new. It certainly indicates that the elements within this organization have received additional training,” he said.

Both Hassm and Lewaa al-Thawra distinguish between political and ideological discourses, a different approach to other militant groups. This is evident in their condemnation of sectarian violence, such as the St. Peter and St. Paul church bombing. Hassm welcomed the inauguration of Lewaa al-Thawra and commended the assassination of Brigadier General ِAdel Ragaei last November.

The two militant groups were formed following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi and the violent dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda sit-ins.

After a rift within the Muslim Brotherhood, some members were involved in supporting groups like Jabhat al-Muqawama al-Shaabiyya (the Popular Resistance Front) and Iqab al-Thawri (Revolutionary Punishment), but with no official ties to the Brotherhood.