Flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to Cairo despite bomb scare

Both Emirates and Etihad airlines have said flights are operating as scheduled after the discovery of two sound bombs at Cairo International Airport.

DUBAI // Flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi are running as normal to Cairo despite a bomb scare at the Egyptian capital’s airport.

Airport security officials on Tuesday said two “sound bombs” were found near a car park at Cairo International Airport, though they were both later defused.

The discovery came after a small bomb, hidden in an electrical transformer, exploded at about 9am local time on Tuesday in Tahrir Square, central Cairo, though there were no casualties, security officials said.

An Emirates airline spokesman said: “At this time, Emirates’ flights between Cairo and Dubai are operating as scheduled.

“We are monitoring the situation closely.

Etihad Airways also confirmed that flights were running as scheduled.

A spokesman said: “Etihad Airways’… flights to Cairo continue to operate as normal at this time.

“We will continue to review the situation closely.”

In Cairo, a police officer told reporters: “A small bomb hidden in a roadside electrical transformer went off, damaging the transformer but causing no casualties.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The city has seen a number of sound bombs, which are easily made improvised explosives, set off in recent weeks without causing casualties.

* With AFP