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Antiquities Minister: Islamic Art Museum completely damaged by blast
Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim (C) is seen in front of the damaged Museum of Islamic Art building, after a bomb blast occurred at the nearby Cairo Security Directorate, which includes police and state security, in downtown Cairo, January 24, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
CAIRO, Jan 24 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim said the Islamic Art Museum has been completely destroyed by the bombing that targeted Cairo Security Directorate on Friday morning.
Initial estimates reveal that most of the museum's interior decorations were destroyed, the ceiling fell and the glass fronts were smashed, the minister said in a statement.
The blast also smashed many items including a wooden mihrab that belonged to Ruqayyah and dates back to the 12th Century AD.
In a visit to inspect the place following the blast, the minister said the museum needs to be rebuilt.
A recent renovation of the museum cost 107 million Egyptian pounds.
After the museum is inspected, it will be emptied of all artifacts and a committee will be formed to assess the damages, the minister said.
The bombing, the first of three that rocked Cairo on Friday, killed four and injured dozens.
