German journalists attacked in Egypt

Two journalists and a driver working for German public television were attacked by a crowd in Cairo Friday as they covered a car bomb that struck the police headquarters in the Egyptian capital, the broadcaster said.

The angry mob set upon the three -- a cameraman, producer and driver -- branding them “traitors” and “lackeys of the Muslim Brotherhood”, broadcaster ARD said on its website.

Two received hospital treatment for severe cuts and bruises, ARD said.

They tried to flee, but were chased by the crowd, who beat them and struck them with sharp objects.

They only escaped thanks to a plain-clothes police officer who fired into the air to disperse the mob.

Six people were killed in four blasts that hit Cairo on Friday, the eve of the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that drove Hosni Mubarak from power.

In a statement, Germany’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks and expressed “serious concern” about the situation in Egypt.