Egypt’s security forces face accusations of extrajudicial killings
Egyptian security forces killed 17 suspects they say were involved in a car bomb that killed more than 20 people in Cairo, raising questions about the operation, which happened quickly.
The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced on Aug. 8 that it had killed 17 people it said were suspects in the Aug. 4 bombing near the National Cancer Institute (NCI), one of the largest cancer treatment hospitals located on the Nile River near central historic Cairo.
It all began late in the evening on Aug. 4 when a car packed with explosives driving in the wrong direction collided with another car in front of the NCI, resulting in a huge fire.
The explosion affected passing pedestrians, hospital patients and motorists; 23 people were killed, including 15 members of the same family who were in a small bus that exploded in the accident. More than 46 people were also injured.
The Interior Ministry said at first the explosion was caused by two cars colliding in front of the NCI. It did not mention a terrorist act or premeditated bombing.
