Egypt's Arab Contractors set to restore bombed Italian Consulate

The consulate, and nearby homes, were damaged in a terror blast last week in Downtown Cairo

Workers clear rubble at the site of an explosion near the Italian Consulate in downtown, Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, July 11, 2015

Egyptian state-owned construction company Arab Contractors will start Saturday preparations for restoring the bomb-struck Italian Consulate in Downtown Cairo.

The consulate was hit last Saturday by a blast caused by a car bomb claimed by the Islamic State group.. 

One person was killed and 10 others were injured in the attack.

In addition, nearby homes also sustained damage and residents staged a protest in the wake of the explosion demanding authorities restore their homes.

Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and Cairo Governor Galal Saeed visited the Boulaq Abu El-Ela neighbourhood Friday and spoke to residents. 

The Cairo governor had said the government would not neglect citizens whose homes were damaged, promising compensation.

Egypt's Arab Contractors is a leading company in Africa and the Middle East, employing 77,000 workers in 29 countries.

Egypt's Sisi and Italian FM vow to continue 'strong cooperation against terrorism

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meeting with Italian Foreign minister on July 13, 2015

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Monday with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni means of combatting terrorism, issues related to the Libyan crisis and solutions for the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants into Europe, the Egyptian presidency said.

Gentiloni arrived in Cairo on Monday for a one-day to visit to meet with El-Sisi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri two days after a car bomb attack against the Italian consulate in Cairo.

The Saturday morning attack destroyed parts of the consulate's facade, and left an Egyptian street vendor dead and ten others injured.

The Italian FM told the Egyptian president that his country sees the terrorist attack on the Italian consulate as a "failed attempt" to weaken the strong ties that bind Rome and Cairo, the Egyptian presidency's spokesperson said in a statement on Monday evening.

El-Sisi expressed to Gentiloni Egypt's appreciation for Italy's support to the country's effort to combat terrorism.

The Egyptian president stressed to the Italian FM that the "terrorist groups" have not only been operating in Egypt but also in foreign countries.

He also stressed in  the meeting the importance of international cooperation to face the threat of terrorism, saying that terrorist groups coordinate internationally on an ideological and logistical level.

The spokesperson added that El-Sisi warned of dire consequences resulting from the deterioration of security conditions in Libya.

Rebel Libyan militias have been fighting the internationally recognised central government in Tobrouk in a civil war that has ravaged the country.

El-Sisi called on the international community to heed Egypt's plea for world leaders to lend urgent support to the Libyan army's efforts to stop the flow of money, arms and foreign fighters into Libyan territories.

The Egyptian president and the Italian FM also discussed issues related to illegal immigration from North Africa across the Mediterranean.

Egyptian Foreign Minister: Italy supports Egypt's war against terrorism

An explosion in front of the Italian Consulate in Cairo killed one, injured ten early Saturday

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry

In a phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni pledged his country’s support in Egypt’s war against terrorism following an attack in the early hours of Saturday in front of the Italian Consulate in Cairo.

According to an Egyptian foreign ministry statement, a few hours following the attack, in a call to Shoukry, Gentiloni condemned what he described as a terrorist attack.

The attack took place at around 6:00am local time in Cairo's Downtown Galaa Street. It left one dead and ten injured, according to health ministry statements.

Spokesperson to the Egyptian foreign ministry Badr Abdel Ati highlighted in the statement that Shoukry informed the Italian foreign minister on all details concerning the incident.

Shoukry underlined to his Italian counterpart that Egypt, with support from Italy, should intensify its efforts in the fight against terrorism.

The Italian foreign minister earlier responded on Twitter to the Cairo attack.

"Bombing against our consulate in Cairo, there are no Italian victims," Gentiloni tweeted shortly after the attack. "Our thoughts are with the people affected and with our personnel. Italy will not let itself be intimidated."

Breaking : One killed 7 injured in car bomb blast at Italian Consulate in Cairo

Egyptian police officers stand on the 6th October bridge opposite the Italian consulate following a blast in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, July 11, 2015 

A powerful blast left at least one dead in front of the Italian Consulate in downtown Cairo Saturday, the second car bomb attack in the Egyptian capital in less than a fortnight.

The explosion badly damaged the consulate, known to be closed Fridays and Saturdays, at around 6:25am CMT. The area is usually busier during working days as the timing of the explosion may have limited the number of casualties.

The consulate's entrance on Al-Galaa Street as well as its façade were destroyed. A water pipe on Al-Galaa and 26th of July streets was also damaged, causing water to flow. Neighbouring buildings have also suffered some damages, according to residents. 

Preliminary investigations show that the explosive-laden vehicle parked outside the Italian Consulate before going off. According to health ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, ten people have been injured.

Sixth of October Bridge, which crosses over the consulate, was briefly sealed off in both directions. Al-Galaa Street, where the explosion occurred, was also closed.

The Italian Consulate complex in Downtown Cairo includes a cultural centre as well a social club. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion.

Not intimidated

Italy will not be intimidated by the deadly bombing of its consulate in Cairo, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in the wake of the attack.

"Bombing against our consulate in Cairo, there are no Italian victims," Gentiloni tweeted shortly after the attack that left left one person dead.

"Our thoughts are with the people affected and with our personnel. Italy will not let itself be intimidated."

On 29 June, Egypt's top prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, was assassinated in a car bomb attack in Cairo's Heliopolis district.

Earlier in the same month, a bomb was planted under a car in front of the Saudi Consulate in Cairo's Garden City where many embassies are located. No casualties were reported.

Egypt has recently seen a spike in bombings in civilian areas after attacks almost exclusively targeted police and army personnel and facilities, mostly claimed by Islamist groups.