Monday 23 February 2009

Yesterday's Explosion

Yesterday's explosion in the Khan el Khalili market killed at least one person and injured about twenty others. It is a tragic occurrence and one that is becoming increasingly common in this city.

The people behind this attack are hardly criminal masterminds. Evidence points to a small, home-made explosive device and they haven't identified themselves or their purposes.

On the other hand, if their goal was to cause panic they have been quite astute. The area where the bomb exploded is one of the only areas of Cairo where just about everybody in the city, rich and poor alike, have been at one time or another. 

The Khan el Khalili market is one of the oldest in the world. Long ago is was the shopping area servicing one of the cities most genteel neighbourhoods. Now dreadfully run down, the area is still full of very old, picturesque mansions and mosques. At least two million people now live in the immediate area. I suppose we shall never know who carried out this attack.


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