An Islamic State-affiliated group has claimed responsibility for a large car bomb attack outside a state security building in Cairo early Thursday that wounded dozens, in the country’s latest militant attack.

Local officials say at least six policemen were among those wounded by the massive blast, which tore the facade off the government building and shattered windows of surrounding structures in the residential neighborhood, Shubra.

Eyewitnesses say the bombers parked the explosives-laden car outside the government facility before escaping in another vehicle. The explosion was so loud that it awoke residents throughout the capital, according to social media posts.

“Soldiers of the Islamic caliphate” carried out the attack, according to a statement by a Twitter account linked to the Sinai Province, which has claimed allegiance with the Islamic State.

Insurgents have killed hundreds of police in a wave of attacks on mostly official targets since the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. Recently, the militants have focused more of their attacks on civilians. 

The latest attack comes days after Egypt adopted a vague new anti-terrorism law, which critics say is an attempt to legitimize government human rights abuses.

Among the act’s provisions are punishments up to death for forming or leading a terror group, a life sentence for financing terrorism and jail terms for inciting or preparing to incite attacks. 

The new law also includes punishments for journalists who go against the official version of an attack, threatening them with fines of between $25,000 and $64,000. An earlier draft version included possible jail sentences for journalists.

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday slammed the new law.

“With this sweeping new decree, Egypt’s president has taken a big step toward enshrining a permanent state of emergency as the law of the land,” HRW’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director Nadim Houry said.  “The government has equipped itself with even greater powers to continue stamping out its critics and opponents under its vague and ever-expanding war on terrorism.”

After forcing Morsi from power, the government launched a massive crackdown against his Muslim Brotherhood, labeling the group a terrorist organization and arresting much of its leadership. 

Security forces also responded violently to Brotherhood protests and demands that Morsi be reinstated, setting off clashes that left more than 1,000 people dead.
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