A tourist bus was hit by an explosion near the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, according to security sources.

At least 16 people were injured in the blast on the road outside the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo on Sunday.

The bus was carrying 28 South African tourists from the airport to the pyramids. Several Egyptians in nearby vehicles were also injured by broken glass.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Egyptian security forces have been waging a counter-insurgency campaign against Islamist militants in the north of the Sinai Peninsula.

Mohamed el-Mandouh, who witnessed the blast, said he heard a “very loud explosion” while sitting in traffic nearby.

Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt Show all 5 1 /5 Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt A tourist bus was hit by an explosion near the Giza pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, on 19 May 2019. At least 16 people were injured, security sources reported. REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt A damaged bus is seen at the site of a blast near a new museum being built close to the Giza pyramids in Cairo, Egypt May 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy AHMED FAHMY REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt A damaged bus is seen at the site of a blast near a new museum being built close to the Giza pyramids in Cairo, Egypt May 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy AHMED FAHMY REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt A damaged bus is seen at the site of a blast near a new museum being built close to the Giza pyramids in Cairo, Egypt May 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy AHMED FAHMY REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy Explosion hits tourist bus near Giza pyramids in Egypt A damaged bus is seen at the site of a blast near a new museum being built close to the Giza pyramids in Cairo, Egypt May 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy AHMED FAHMY REUTERS/Ahmed Fahmy

Images showing a damaged bus with its windows blown out and what looked to be injured tourists, some covered in blood, have been circulated on social media.

South Africa’s foreign ministry said in a statement that three of its citizens were injured and will remain in hospital. The other 25 passengers will return home on Monday morning, it claimed.

The blast happed around 50 metres from the outer fence of the new museum, and more than 400 metres from the main building, according to the Antiquities Ministry.

Egypt’s tourist industry has been recovering in recent years after visitor numbers dropped in the wake of a 2011 uprising and the 2015 bombing of a Russian passenger jet.

The museum, which will display some of the country’s top antiquities on a site adjoining the world-famous Giza pyramids, is due to open next year.

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