Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni will visit Egypt this week to discuss “counter-terrorism” efforts after the Italian consulate in downtown Cairo was damaged in a car bomb attack Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdel Atty told The Cairo Post Sunday.
“Preparations of the visit arebeing conducted in coordination with the Italian party,” Atty said.
A street vendor was killed and ten civilians were injured in a car bomb blast at the Italian consulate; four children, aged 7-13, were among the injured. No Italian nationals were among the victims.Islamic State affiliate in Sinai has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Media outlets reported that the one-day visit could be paid on Monday.
Gentiloni condemned the attack, adding that his country was not “intimidated.”
Egypt’s Foreign Minister SamehShoukry told Gentiloni in a phone call that Egypt is able to “uproot terrorism.”
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi Saturday, emphasizing Rome’s support to Egyptian efforts to “combat terrorism.”
