An explosion near Cairo’s Coptic cathedral has killed 22  people, Egyptian officials said.The explosion happened at around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). At least 10 people have been injured and taken to hospital by ambulance.

Local media reported that Cairo’s security chief, Khalid Abdel Aal, arrived to inspect the scene. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.

Egypt’s Coptic Christians make up about 10% of the country’s population.

St Mark’s Cathedral is the headquarters of the country’s Orthodox church, and the home of its leader, Pope Tawadros II.

Video footage from outside the cathedral appeared to show damage to its exterior roof on one side facing the street.
On Saturday, six policemen were killed when a bomb exploded on a main road leading to the pyramids at Giza, reports the BBC.
Two people were killed outside St Mark’s cathedral in 2013, when people mourning the death of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence clashed with local residents.