(AFP File Photo)
A bomb exploded in the vicinity of Cairo University on Wednesday afternoon, injuring six policemen and four civilians, according to the Ministry of Interior.
The incident comes after protests have spread across university campuses, reacting to new security measures, student arrests, and the deployment of riot police and private security personnel.
The ministry added that police forces arrested 12 students who are allegedly members of the Muslim Brotherhood from the universities of Al-Azhar, Ain Shams, and Helwan, charging them with protesting and attacking campus security.
Youssef Al-Adawi, a student in Cairo University, told Daily News Egypt that campus security evacuated the university fearing the existence of other bombs.
Youssef Salheen, spokesperson of Students Against Coup (SAC), condemned the bombing and denied that the group had any involvement in the explosion.
Hasan Farid, spokesperson of SAC movement branch in Cairo University, said that students blocked roads leading to Giza square on Wednesday morning as they protested outside campus the death of a student in Alexandria University, clashing with police.
Farid added that “protesting outside the perimeter of campus is a message to security forces that students broke the police siege.”
At Helwan University, students staged silent protests condemning dawn arrests of fellow students.
In Mansoura University, SAC students cancelled their protests as they received threats of a harsh crackdown if protests are to take place. Mansoura University president Mohamed Al Kenawy released a statement on Wednesday warning students of joining protests led by SAC students, adding that “they [SAC students] will be treated as thugs”.
Police stormed Kafr Al-Sheikh University and fired tear gas at students protesting the arrest of their colleagues.
Riot police has been present outside a number of universities in anticipation of demonstrations.
On Tuesday Alexandria University student Omar Al-Sharif died from birdshots fired by the police during the clashes between students and riot police on 14 October, sparking a wave of condemnation.
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms condemned the death of Al-Sharif, demanding police forces to restrain themselves when using force to disperse students.
Additional Reporting by Menna Zaki
