A high-profile bombing of Italy's consulate in Cairo by jihadist group Islamic State was a "warning" to Egypt and a step up in the conflict against the West, an Arab affairs expert has said.
Photo: Egyptian security officials inspect the site of the car bomb attack, the first on a foreign mission since Morsi's ouster. (Reuters: Mohamed Abd El Ghany)
Related Story: One dead after blast strikes exterior of Italian consulate in Cairo; IS claims attack
A car bomb struck the consulate on Saturday, killing a civilian and wounding nine people in the first attack on a foreign mission in Egypt since jihadists launched an insurgency against the country's security forces two years ago following a crackdown on Islamists.
Islamic State (IS) claimed the car bomb attack, following calls by the group's spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani urging strikes on Western targets wherever possible.
"I don't think it was about Italy specifically, I think it was about a Western country," said HA Hellyer, an Arab affairs expert at the Washington-based Brookings Institution.
The bombing was a clear warning to Cairo, he said.
"This way terrorists get to say they are able to get the government in the centre of Cairo, close to a metro station, underneath a major highway bridge, at a foreign institution, but at the same time, without inflicting (huge) casualties — this time."
Photo: Experts say the bombing is a clear warning to Cairo. (AFP: Mohamed El Shahed)
The consulate's location in downtown Cairo made it a target, said a Western diplomat on condition of anonymity.
The mission is housed in an historic building between Ramses train station and Tahrir Square, amid a maze of streets filled with people, vehicles and vendors.
"Security there around is kind of difficult to keep if you compare it to security measures at the UK or the American embassy," the diplomat said.
"So it was an easy target in a way."
Prime minister Ibrahim Mehleb said on Saturday Egypt was at war and urged the world to unite against terrorism after the car bomb attack, a state-run newspaper reported.
"The time has come for the world to unite in facing terrorism, which now threatens the entire world," Mr Mehleb said.
Attack indicates growing reach of Islamic State: Egypt expert
Photo: Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shukri (R) meets with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni in Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters, file photo)
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi told reporters that the attack "can have random aspects, to show the logistical ability to hit a Western nation".
He said Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was the only one who can "save" Egypt.
"This is my personal position and I am proud of my friendship with him and I will support him in the direction of peace because the Mediterranean without Egypt will be absolutely a place without peace," Mr Renzi said.
This attack indicates the ambition and reach of IS. It's a significant development... We can't assume how sustainable the expansion is, but it's an attempt to expand.
Michael Hanna, an Egypt expert with the Century Foundation think-tank.
Italy and Egypt have shared close political and economic ties for years, with Mr Sisi visiting Rome shortly after winning a presidential election last year.
Egypt has been rocked by violence since then army chief Mr Sisi overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
In an ensuing government crackdown, hundreds have been killed and thousands imprisoned, mostly supporters of Mr Morsi.
Jihadists say their attacks are in retaliation for the crackdown.
Saturday's bombing shows the growing reach of IS jihadists in staging attacks in mainland Egypt and not just in North Sinai where militants have killed scores of policemen and troops.
Attacks in Sinai are claimed by IS's Egyptian affiliate "Sinai Province," but Saturday's attack was claimed by a group calling itself "IS in Egypt".
"This is the first attempt to establish a new IS affiliate in mainland Egypt," said Michael Wahid Hanna, an Egypt expert with the New York-based Century Foundation think-tank.
"This attack indicates the ambition and reach of IS. It's a significant development... We can't assume how sustainable the expansion is, but it's an attempt to expand."
AFP/Reuters
From other news sites:
