Mohamed Ali palace affected by Shubra blast

Mohamed Ali Palace - which is 500 kilometers from the bombarded Shubra el Kheima national security building - was affected by the blast, the minister of antiquities said.

Mamdouh Damati said the palace suffered cracks in the land, walls and ceiling. Many windows were smashed.

The minister gave directives to form a commission to assess the damage and start restoration.

A shuddering explosion hit early Thursday the national security building in Shubra el Kheima, a Cairo suburb, leaving behind 29 people injured.

The blast left a two-meter deep and five-meter wide crater, causing an explosion of the main water pipeline.

An engineering commission inspected the building and said it was safe and needs only restoration.

The building's facade was cracked along with part of its fence.

Windows and doors of nearby buildings were smashed. About 20 nearby cars were also damaged.

Security forces sealed off all roads leading to the site of the blast and traffic was diverted.