Firebomb attack kills 16 people at Cairo restaurant

Cairo: Sixteen people died on Friday in an attack by Molotov bombs and an ensuing blaze at a nightclub in the Egyptian capital, medical and security sources said. 

The nightclub, which also includes a restaurant, is located in the district of Agouza near the Cairo Nile.

Preliminary investigations showed that the attack had criminal rather than terrorist motives, according to a security source.

“The incident followed a quarrel between the nightclub staff and some customers. The customers hurled Molotov bombs causing a big fire in the place and ran away,” the source added on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to talk to the media.

Agencies reported the initial death toll at 18 people, but it was later revised to 16.

Egyptian television said  that police mounted a manhunt for the perpetrators, as the fire in the nightclub was extinguished.

Egypt has seen a spate of fatal attacks, claimed by Islamist insurgents, since the army's 2013 toppling of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following enormous street protests against his rule. 

Most attacks occurred in the Sinai Peninsula.