A powerful blast hit the Italian consulate in the Egyptian capital on Saturday, partially destroying the facade of the building in central Cairo, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blast, which occurred at about 6:30 am (0430 GMT), when the consulate would have been closed.

Medics at the site of the blast told AFP that it wounded two policemen stationed outside the consulate and three passers-by.