Blast near Cairo security building

Egyptian officials have said a bomb has exploded near a state security building in the capital Cairo. The explosion came in the early hours, and there were a number of injuries.

An explosion was heard near a national security building and courthouse in Cairo, Egyptian security sources said on Thursday.

The blast was said by security officials to have come from a large bomb that rocked the Shubra neighborhood of northern Cairo.

"A man suddenly stopped his car in front of the state security building, jumped out of it and fled on a motorbike that followed the car," an Interior Ministry statement said. "The car exploded wounding six policemen."

According to reports, the explosion was heard in several parts of the Egyptian capital. Part of the security building was said to have been destroyed.

Militants based in the Sinai Peninsula who have affiliated themselves to the "Islamic State" militant group in parts of Iraq and Syria have previously claimed responsibility for attacks on security forces.

Jihadis have said their attacks come in response to a government crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood that has seen hundreds sentenced to death and thousands jailed. Egypt's ousted elected President Mohammed Morsi is among those who were sentenced to death.

However, no group initially claimed responsibility for the explosion on Thursday.

On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi approved a new "anti-terrorism" law which included harsh penalties, new powers of arrest and restrictions on media reporting.

rc/se (dpa, Reuters, AP, AFP)