According to Egyptian sources, at 07:15 on the 24th, in the south-eastern Sinai Peninsula, 3 synchronised bombings occurred in a restaurant and 2 other locations.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, at least 3 foreigners were killed in the explosions.
The death toll was 23 people, with an additional 60 injured.
Mubarak, in a declaration to the Middle East, stated that this was a terrorist act.
As there was a springtime festival at the time, the locations that were bombed were densely packed with civilians.
Reuters stated that according to the local governor it was a suicide bombing; however, security sources state that it was a set of bombs which detonated simultaneously.
Of the 3 dead foreigners, one was a German boy, but the identities of the other 2 are yet unclear.
Included in the list of injured persons are an Englishman and a Dane.
According to the Japanese embassy, no Japanese citizens were killed by the blasts.
Eyewitness reports paint the scene as one filled with smoke and carnage.
Confused by the incident, tourists entered a state of panic and attempted to escape.
The border with Israel was immediately closed.
The purpose of the bombings seems to be a response to the attempted escape of a criminal.
In the past year, this is the third occurance of a terrorist attack in the Sinai Peninsula.
In October 2004, 34 persons were killed in Taba and 64 others in Sharm El Sheikh last July.
This terrorist act delivered a huge blow to the tourism industry and is considered to be an attempt at destabilising the Mubarak administration.
It appears that this is the work of a local Islamic fundamentalist organisation, but others believe there is some influence from an international organisation such as Al Qaeda.
- 作品名
- Bombing leaves 23 dead in the Sinai Peninsula. (Egypt)
- 登録日時
- 2006/04/24(月) 03:12
- 分類
- AFRICA::Egypt