2 killed on Cairo's May 15 Bridge after explosion

Two people were killed as a bomb exploded on a main bridge in Egypt’s capital of Cairo on Sunday, Egyptian police officials said.

“The bombing, which took place on May 15 Bridge in Zamalek district, left two people dead and a third wounded,” said Health Ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghafar.

The bomb had been placed near a police checkpoint on the side of the bridge that runs over the Zamalek neighbourhood, the officials said.

Other sources are reporting that the bomb killed a police officer. An official from the health ministry said the blast tore the victim's body to pieces, and injured two others.

An AFP correspondent said there was a pool of blood next to the checkpoint.

Eyewitnesses said traffic over the regularly busy bridge grinded to a standstill as security forces combed the area in search of more bombs. 

Militants have repeatedly set off bombs in Cairo targeting police checkpoints and vehicles. Bombings have become a common occurrence in Egypt since former president and Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi was ousted in the summer of 2013.

While the government accuses the Muslim Brotherhood of carrying out the attacks, the group denies the allegations, saying it is committed to peaceful protest.