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Egypt blast: Death toll rises

News Agencies 25 March 2018, 13:04 IST

Egypt blast: Death toll rises

The death toll in Saturday's explosion in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria has risen to two, the country's interior ministry confirmed.

The second policeman who was rushed to a local hospital succumbed to his injuries.

Earlier, a policeman lost his life and four others were injured in an explosion that took place as a convoy containing the city's security chief passed by, The Guardian reported.

General Mostafa al-Nimr, who was travelling in the convoy survived the explosion, as per a local TV footage.

The explosion occurred in the vicinity of a police station in Alexandria city's central Roshdi district.

The Egyptian interior ministry said in a statement, "The explosive device had been placed under a car and it had detonated as the convoy passed. The public prosecutor has ordered an investigation."

No terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The incident comes after the Egyptian presidential election is scheduled to take place between March 26 to 28, where ruling President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is expected to be re-elected.

Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April last year, as the country has been repeatedly targeted by terrorist attacks, causing heavy casualties, with most of them being claimed by the terror outfit Islamic State.

-ANI

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