An Egyptian forensic member checks the entrance of a nightclub which was attacked in Cairo.

A Molotov cocktail hurled at a Cairo nightclub has killed 16 people and wounded two on Friday, Egyptian security officials said.

Victims of the blast were burned to death or died from smoke inhalation in the establishment. The nightclub, which also acts as a restaurant according to several media reports, was located in a basement and offered no escape routes, officials said.

One of the officials said the attacker was an employee who had been fired from the nightclub in the Agouza area in the center of the Egyptian capital, Reuters reported.

Extremist militants have claimed a number of bombing and shooting attacks in Egypt, mostly against members of the security forces since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests.

Related articles across the web

• Muslim Brotherhood Front Group Responds to Carson
• Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalist
• Saudi Arabia suspiciously tries to get close to Muslim Brotherhood
• Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were among 100 people pardoned by Egyptian pr
• Egypt's Sisi pardons two Jazeera journalists: Presidency
• Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy pardoned by Egypt
• Breaking news: Egypt pardons Mohamed Fahmy
• Maryland: Muslims buying row houses from city to 'carve out a Muslim community'
• Egypt pardons al-Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed
• Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were among 100 people pardoned by Egyptian pr