World

Deadly blast hits tour bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt

09:57 am on 29 December 2018

A roadside blast has killed three people - two Vietnamese tourists and a local tour guide - and injured 11 others on a bus near the Giza pyramids in Egypt, officials say.

Police officers examined the shattered vehicle. Photo: AFP

A bomb hidden beside a wall went off as the bus carrying 14 Vietnamese tourists was passing.

Two people were critically wounded, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said.

The bus hit the device after it went off its planned route without alerting security forces, Mr Ismail added.

Those injured were 10 Vietnamese tourists and the bus driver.

There were no immediate reports of any group saying it was behind the attack, but Islamist militants have targeted tourists in the past.

Tourism is a mainstay of the economy.

The bomb went off at about 18:15 (5.45am this morning NZ time) on Maryoutiya Street in Giza's Haram district, the interior ministry says.

Security forces rushed to the scene in response and police are investigating.

- BBC