First Incident: Khan El-Khalili Bombing
At 18:30 local time on 22 February 2009, a bomb exploded in Khan el-Khalili, a souq in eastern Cairo.
The attack took place just after dark in front of a cafe crowded with people gathering to watch a televised football match. There were conflicting reports that the bomb was thrown from a balcony or from a motorcycle, but security officials reported that the bomb had exploded under a bench in a garden in the square. A second bomb failed to detonate and was defused. The bombs weighed 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb) and contained nails and metal fragments. A 17 year-old French girl, who was among a group of 54 teenagers from Levallois-Perret, near Paris, was killed. 17 French, one German and three Saudi tourists, as well as three Egyptians, were wounded. Early reports suggested the explosive devices were "primitive".
According to security sources, there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any militant group, but three suspects had been taken into custody.
Read more about this topic: February 2009 Cairo Terrorist Attacks
Famous quotes containing the word bombing:
“The compulsion to do good is an innate American trait. Only North Americans seem to believe that they always should, may, and actually can choose somebody with whom to share their blessings. Ultimately this attitude leads to bombing people into the acceptance of gifts.”
—Ivan Illich (b. 1926)