Cairo bomb: Home-made device explodes wounding three

The interior ministry blamed the Muslim Brotherhood although no group has claimed responsibility

A view of the Pyramids of Giza on the south-western outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP

Three people have been injured in a blast as Egyptian officials tried to defuse a homemade bomb in the Cairo's western district of Giza.

An Interior Ministry statement blamed members of the Muslim Brotherhood for the attack, which it said targeted a security checkpoint. The Islamist group has been banned in Egypt since 2013.

In footage shared online appearing to show the explosion, security forces are stationed around the device, roads are closed and other emergency services are on the scene.

However, the overpass above the apparent site has not been closed and traffic can be seen overhead when the explosion goes off.

لحظة تفجير القنبلة بميدان الجيزة مكان تمركز عربيات الامن ودى القنبلة التانية الاقوى.الاولى كانت اقل.الصوت اقوى بكتير من الفيديو pic.twitter.com/ZfvTvxl29G

— DR/ Amr . imam (@Dr_amr_Kotb_EGY) February 15, 2019

At least one police office was among the wounded from the explosion. Police sealed off the entire district and diverted traffic as security forces searched for the culprits.

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The official says the wounded, including a policeman, were rushed to a nearby hospital. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak to the media.

No group immediately claimed responsibility. In December, a bomb targeting a tourist bus in Giza killed three Vietnamese nationals and their tour guide. Eleven others were wounded in the blast.

In raids after the attack, Egyptian authorities say they killed 40 militants and seized bomb-making equipment. The interior ministry said at the time that “A group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism... and Christian places of worship."