Militant group Ajnad Misr claimed an explosive device that went off on Sunday, the fourth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution, in the Alf Maskan area of eastern Cairo. The explosion occurred near a Central Security Forces position close to the entrance to El-Shams Sporting Club. The Ministry of Interior reported that two police officers were injured in the incident. The group's statement, however, claimed there were more injuries that went unreported. While the actual toll is unclear, militant groups are known to frequently overstate the impact of their operations for propaganda purposes, to showcase strength and attract support. In a statement posted Sunday on its Twitter account, Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) also claimed a series of bombings over the past month. These occurred against what it calls the "criminal agencies", in reference to the security agencies. One such bombing occurred in Alf Maskan on Friday, and targeted police officials during the presence of the Minister of Iinterior's aides. The statement alleged that it resulted in the death and injury of several police employees, however, state-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported that there were only four injuries and no deaths. Another bomb claimed by the group detonated near the main entrance of the Qubba Palace, near Heliopolis, and targeted police officials responsible for guarding the entrance. Two injuries, a colonel and a corporal, were reported after the explosion according to Al-Ahram. Another Ajnad Misr bomb targeted a high ranking officer near Al-Talbeya police station on 6 January. The explosive device was detected by the authorities and was located in front of a gas station near the police station. While attempting to dismantle the device, it exploded killing a police officer and injuring a worker in the gas station, according to Al-Ahram. The group also claimed a 4 December explosive device targeting police officials, which detonated in front of Ain Shams University, near the ministry of defence. A security source had confirmed this attack to MENA news agency. The group claimed that all its operations target "criminal agencies" and that no operations were undertaken targeting public transportation or public facilities. The US Department of State has officially designated Ajnad Misr as "Specially Designated Global Terrorist", describing it as a "violent extremist group that splintered from Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis", in a statement released in mid-December. Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis is the former name of a Sinai-based militant group, which now calls itself ‘State of Sinai'. Both Ajnad Misr and ‘State of Sinai' are militant Salafi organisations espousing a takfiri ideology, accusing other Muslims of apostasy, though there is little evidence of direct links between them. Ajnad Misr has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in and around greater Cairo, including a bombing outside Cairo University on 22 October. Earlier in September, the group claimed responsibility for a deadly blast near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in central Cairo, killing two officers and one conscript. Police and military personnel and facilities have been the targets of several militant groups, with most attacks occurring in Sinai, while Ajnad Misr is active in greater Cairo.
