Three killed in Giza blast

An explosion in Giza that killed three people including a senior judge is being described as an accidental gas leak.

People inspect the damaged building that was rocked by an explosion, in Giza, Egypt, 27 December 2015. According to reports, a woman was killed and dozen were injured in an explosion at a residential building in Faisal neighborhood of Giza. (EPA) Source: EPA

Egypt's government says an explosion in Cairo's twin city of Giza has killed three people, including a senior judge, and injured 11.

An Interior Ministry statement said the blast on Sunday in Giza's Faisal neighbourhood was apparently the result of a gas leak and dismissed the possibility of an intentional attack.

The ministry, which is in charge of the police, says the judge was "coincidentally" passing by the building where the explosion occurred.

Attacks by militants targeting police, military and judicial officials have been on the rise ever since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and cracked down on his supporters in 2013.

Authorities say an investigation into the blast to confirm the preliminary findings of a gas leak is under way.