Number of Cancer Institute explosion victims rises to 22

CAIRO - 6 August 2019: The number of the National Cancer Institute explosion victims rose by two to become 22 instead of 20, a source at the Forensic Medicine Authority told Al-Watan newspaper on Tuesday.

The source affirmed that the authority received 10 bodies in the morning from Al-Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital, and 12 bodies on Monday from Nasser Institute for Research and Treatment. The autopsy was carried out and samples were delivered to the lab for conducting DNA analysis.

Three injured were lying in the intensive care unit (ICU) until Monday. According to the latest data, the total number of injured is currently 47.

The Ministry of Social Solidarity announced on August 6 that compensation worth LE 100,000 will be given to the family of each victim, and each injured suffering a total disability in the National Cancer Institute explosion.

The value of the compensation provided to each injured who will receive a long-term treatment at the hospital is LE 50,000. The injured whose treatment will not last for more than 72 hours will receive LE 5,000.

Late on Sunday, an explosion took place on the street where the National Cancer Institute lies in Cairo’s Manial neighborhood. The institute’s building was damaged by the blast. None of the patients or medical staff members was harmed. However, the patients have been moved to other hospitals.

The explosion occurred because of a car that contained explosives and drove wrong-way to crash into three other cars in front of the building. The car was on its way to launch a terror attack elsewhere.

The Ministry of Interior held Hasm terror group responsible for the incident. Hasm, Arabic for decisiveness, is affiliated with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The statement did not reveal further details regarding the terrorist attack Hasm was planning to carry out.