Italian Consulate in Egypt bombed; 1 killed

Islamic State militants detonated a powerful car bomb outside the Italian consulate in Cairo, killing a civilian and injuring 10 people, the first assault on a foreign mission in Egypt since militants launched a campaign against security forces after Mohammed Morsi's ouster in 2013.

The blast on Saturday morning caused heavy damage to the facades of the Italian consulate and some surrounding buildings.

The explosion was so powerful that it ruptured underground water pipes, flooding the area.

Health Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar confirmed the death of a civilian in the blast caused by a bomb planted in a car parked near the consulate in central Cairo.

Ten others were injured in the blast.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack, local media reported citing social media accounts linked to the outfit.

"Soldiers of the Islamic State in Cairo have detonated a parked booby-trapped vehicle laden with 450 kg of explosives at the headquarters of the Italian consulate," the group tweeted on their social media.

Italy's foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni tweeted his country "will not let itself be intimidated".

"Our thoughts are with the people affected and with our personnel," he wrote.

The attack comes less than a fortnight after a coordinated assault by IS militants across military checkpoints in North Sinai killed over 70 people, including soldiers.

Islamist militants have carried out roadside bombs and suicide attacks that have so far targeted members of security forces and officials.

Recently, a car bomb killed Egypt's top public prosecutor and militants linked to the IS attacked several checkpoints.

17 soldiers and more than 100 militants were killed in those clashes, according to the army.

Egypt's restive North Sinai region has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January, 2011 revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.

Image: Egyptian security officials inspect the site following a bomb blast at the Italian Consulate in Cairo, Egypt. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters