An explosion went off near a hotel in Egypt's Alexandria city, resident have reported.
The blast occurred near the Tolip Hotel on Saturday afernoon in Rushdi, a neighbourhood in Egypt's second city.
One soldier was killed and several others were injured in the explosion which was the result of a car bomb which targeted the motorcade of the head of security in Alexandria, an Egyptian security source told Al Jazeera.
The Egyptian ministry of interior said that the attack was an assassination attempt against Alexandria's head of security.
Former deputy interior minister Rafiq Habib told Al Jazeera he suspects the perpetrators belong to an extremist groups, although nothing has been yet confirmed.
"The timing of this explosion which comes just ahead of the presidential is telling of that its objective is to sow fear among voters."
"I do not believe that it [the attack] will have any impact on the elections however. I'm sure there will be huge numbers going to vote," he added.
Alexandria resident posted photos of smoke rising from the explosion site.