Major blast damages Cairo police headquarters, kills two

CAIRO - A large blast near police headquarters in central Cairo on Friday killed at least two people and wounded many others, security and medical sources said.

Three security sources said a car bomb was the likely cause of the explosion, which damaged the building and sent smoke rising over the city centre.

Reuters witnesses heard gunfire immediately after the blast. State television quoted witnesses as saying gunmen opened fire on buildings after the explosion.

Islamist militants have stepped up attacks on security forces since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood last July.