Egyptian forces kill 17 militants

Egyptian security forces have killed 17 members of the Islamist group blamed for an explosion that left 20 people dead, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Eight members of the Hasm group died in al-Fayum, south of Cairo, while seven others perished in al-Shuruk, northeast of the capital, the ministry said in a statement.

Two other members were killed in the Helwan district of Cairo, according to the ministry.

The statement said that one of the two Helwan fatalities was the brother of 24-year-old Abdel Rahman Khaled Mahmoud who was the driver of the explosives-packed car that detonated outside Cairo's main cancer hospital.

Authorities say Abdel Rahman was transporting explosives intended for use in an attack at another location

The explosives-laden car collided with oncoming traffic while travelling the wrong way.

Hasm emerged in 2016 and has claimed responsibiity for a number of attacks, including the attempted assassinations of Egypt's assistant attorney general and the grand mufti of Cairo.

But Hasm denies any involvement with Monday's explosion in Cairo and no other group has claimed responsibility.