Cairo explosion rocks pro-Sisi election rally

A bomb wounded at least four people at a Cairo election rally for presidential frontrunner Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, security sources said, according to Reuters news agency.

A man riding on a motorcycle threw the homemade bomb in the direction of Sisi supporters at the street gathering around 150 people in a north-eastern district of Cairo, the sources said.

Former army chief Sisi, who was not present, is expected to win the election due to be held on May 26-27, after gaining the support of many Egyptians who backed his ouster of Islamist leader Mohammad Mursi.

For security reasons, Sisi has avoided public appearances during his election campaign. During a television interview, the former Defense Minister said that there were two attempts on his life, but did not elaborate.

The attack is the first targeting a campaign event.

It was not clear whether Saturday’s attack had been aimed at the police or Sisi supporters but one of the wounded was a police officer, the security sources said.

Leftist candidate Hamdeen Sabahi is Sisi’s only competitor. He came third in the 2012 presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s interior minister said that security forces were ready to ensure elections would be held in safety, according to Reuters.

The interior minister survived an assassination attempt in Cairo last year.

(With Reuters)