Update: Mansoura explosion kills 12

Twelve people were killed in an explosion targeting the Daqahlia Security Directorate in Mansoura early Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior.

The statement listed the names of nine victims, adding that three bodies are yet to be identified.

Around 134 police personnel and civilians were injured in the attack, according to the statement.

The explosion rocked the Security Directorate building around 1 am Tuesday, causing its side façade to collapse. Several police cars were destroyed and nearby buildings also partially collapsed, including the Mansoura City Council, the National Theater and the United Bank, the statement read.

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim headed to Mansoura early Tuesday to inspect the scene of the explosion, meet security officials, and visit the injured.

Ibrahim said the “enemy” Egypt is facing has “no religion and no nation” and only aims to destroy and destabilize the state, state-owned daily Al-Ahram reported.

Police stations in various Egyptian cities, especially those in Sinai, have increasingly been targeted since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

In a statement posted on its spokesperson’s Facebook page Tuesday, the Armed Forces mourned the victims of the “despicable terrorist operation” and offered condolences to their families.

The statement said that such “cowardly acts are committed by a misguided group” and only strengthen the Armed Forces’ determination to cleanse the country of supporters of extremist organizations who tamper with Egypt’s national security and terrorize citizens.

The pro-Morsi National Alliance to Support Legitimacy also denounced the attacks in a statement Tuesday, holding “those who staged the coup and their aides of corrupt businessmen” responsible for the events. The alliance warned against plans to stir sedition in the country, adding that its fight for legitimacy will remain peaceful. 

The Muslim Brotherhood also condemned Tuesday's attack in a statement sent by its London press office, deeming it “a direct attack on the unity of the Egyptian people.”

“It is no surprise that [Hazem] Beblawi, the military junta's puppet Prime Minister, has decided to exploit the blood of innocent Egyptians through inflammatory statements designed to create further violence, chaos and instability,” the statement read.

The Cabinet formed a central operations room to follow up on the attack and catch the perpetrators, state news agency MENA reported.

The Cabinet spokesperson warned against more attacks, calling on Egyptians to take part in the upcoming referendum on the constitution “to prove to terrorism that it cannot destroy the Egyptian people.”

General Prosecutor Hisham Barakat ordered an immediate investigation into the attack, according to Al-Ahram, and is seeking the help of the National Security Agency.