Two minor blasts took place near a courthouse in eastern Cairo on Wednesday morning, eyewitnesses and Al-Ahram's Arabic news website have reported, shortly after two explosions in two Cairo metro stations wounded at least four.

Two improvised bombs were placed underneath two cars outside a courthouse in the upscale Heliopolis district, according to Al-Ahram. The blasts damaged the cars but left no injuries.

A third home-made explosive device planted in the vicinity was defused, the same source added.

The blasts were reported almost an hour after two explosions, minutes apart, took place during the morning rush hour at two Cairo metro stations, leaving four wounded.