A thick cloud of smoke was seen billowing from the fire-ravaged nightclub. The main entrance of El Sayad nightclub-cum-restaurant, located about 5km from the iconic Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo had been attacked with about 15 Molotov bottles and birdshots.

An Egyptian policeman stands in front of the nightclub in Cairo. Pic/AP

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Theories
Several theories have come up since investigators are apparently unsure of the cause of the crime. First, three motorcycle-borne masked assailants threw Molotov cocktails on the club, apparently after a dispute with the club's staff over their entry.

The Ministry of Interior said a preliminary investigation indicated that the attack happened after a dispute between the nightclub staff and a group of youths.

Onlookers gather at the scene of the attack.Pic/AFP

Second, one of the Egyptian security officials said the attacker was an employee who had been fired from the restaurant in the Agouza area in the centre of the Egyptian capital, the Telegraph reported.

Not terrorism
The incident was apparently not motivated by terrorism, the ministry said, adding that 11 men and five women were killed and three others injured in the attack.

Police have launched a manhunt to nab the attackers who carried out the attack.