Explosion in Front of Italian Consulate in Cairo Claims Victim

A powerful bomb explosion in front of the Italian consulate in Cairo resulted in one death. This incident is considered the first attack on a foreign diplomatic site since the escalation of jihadist attacks against security forces in Egypt over the past two years. According to AFP, the explosion occurred at 6:30 AM on Saturday, July 20, when the consulate was closed and no staff were present. However, the spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Health announced that the explosion left one dead and four injured, two of whom were police officers and three were passersby. In response to the explosion, the Italian Foreign Minister tweeted that his country would not be intimidated by such events. Paolo Gentiloni condemned the incident and assured Italian citizens that none of the victims were Italian. AFP reports that Islamist militants have intensified their attacks since General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's coup against Mohamed Morsi and his ousting in July 2013, but most of these attacks, which have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Egyptian police and soldiers, have occurred in the Sinai Peninsula. It is still unclear which group orchestrated this morning's attack in front of the Italian consulate. The Egyptian state news agency MENA reported that the bomb was placed in a vehicle, which caused part of the Italian consulate building to collapse, along with a police kiosk that was completely destroyed. The Italian consulate in Cairo is located near the Supreme Court of Egypt and the country’s prosecutor's office. Less than two weeks ago, the Attorney General of Egypt was killed in an explosion from a bomb placed in a vehicle. However, AFP notes that diplomats had warned the police months ago that embassies might be targeted, but it is unclear whether Egyptian security forces conducted any special investigations regarding this matter.