Three bombs exploded outside Cairo University’s engineering faculty today killing at least two people — a senior police officer and a civilian.

Two bombs hidden at the foot of a tree went off about a minute apart and a third nearly two hours later.

They targeted riot police routinely deployed at the location in anticipation of near-daily protests by students who support ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group.

The slain police officer was Brigadier-General Tareq al-Mergawi.

Four civilians and three senior police officers were among the wounded.

They included Major-General Abdel-Raouf el-Sirafy, who is the deputy chief of police in the Giza province, parts of which are located in the Greater Cairo area. Cairo University’s main campus is in Giza.

A police general at the scene said that the bombs had been concealed between two small police posts where riot police generally gather.