EGYPT: 6 people arrested in connection with train explosion as death toll rises to 22

Authorities in Egypt have ordered the detention of six people over the deadly train explosion at Cairo’s main train station days ago.

Public prosecutors in Egypt ordered the detention of the six people including the train’s driver, his assistant, another train driver and three other rail employees for the next four days.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the driver stepped off the train to talk to another driver without pulling the hand brake, causing the unattended locomotive to speed off and hit a concrete platform.

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Egypt’s Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Thursday the death toll from the crash of the locomotive that smashed through the buffers and burst into flames at Cairo’s main train station had risen from 20 to 22.

50 other victims were also confirmed injured after the incident which witnessed an explosion when the train rammed into a steel barrier at Ramses station.

Recall that Egypt’s Transport Minister Hisham Arafat also resigned following the tragedy which security sources revealed that there was no indication the crash was deliberate.

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