At least 14 people were killed early Tuesday when an explosion ripped through the police headquarters in Mansoura, which lies in northern Egypt, according to authorities and health officials. It was attributed to a car bomb.

Some 100 people were wounded in the blast, including the chief of police, General Sami al-Meihi.

The force of the blast had caused the building to partially collapse and the impact inflicted heavy damages on neighboring buildings and vehicles.

Soon after the attack, interim government spokesperson Sherif Showky said the Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood had carried out the attack, according to the Middle East News Agency (MENA).

"Prime Minister (Hazem) Beblawi has declared the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization," spokesperson Sherif Showky said.

The Islamist group has been calling for the reinstatement of President Mohammed Morsi since his ouster on July 3. The military-backed government has remained at odds with the group ever since, cracking down on its protests and arresting its members for inciting violence.

Mansour lies about 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Cairo and is the capital of the Dakahlia Governate.

kms/rc (AP, AFP, Reuters)