Terrorist Attacks at Egyptian Resort Kill Dozens As Suspects in Previous Bombing Near Trial (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik bombed by terrorists - Updated AFP story: "Al-Qaeda linked suicide car bombers unleashed a trail of carnage in Egypt's tourist-packed Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing at least 88 people, including foreign tourists." Updated AP story: "The attacks appeared well coordinated. Two car bombs, possibly by suicide attackers, went off simultaneously at 1:15 a.m. just more than 2 miles apart. A third bomb, believed hidden in a sack, detonated around the same time near a beachside walkway where tourists often stroll at night." Fox News on claim for attacks: "The group, which calls itself the Abdullah Azzam Brigades in Syria and Egypt, posted a statement to an Islamic Web site saying its 'holy warriors targeted the Ghazala Gardens hotel and the Old Market in Sharm el-Sheikh. The authenticity of the statement could not be immediately verified.' But some Egyptian analysts blamed Israel. Interestingly, Hamas denounced the attacks. In the blogosphere, Michelle Malkin and Robert Spencer have their usual outstanding coverage of such events.

Fox News story notes previous attacks: "Egypt has been the site of several deadly attacks on places frequented by tourists. In October 2004, a series of explosions hit several hotels in the Sinai resorts of Taba and Ras Shitan, about 100 miles northwest along the Gulf of Aqaba coast, killing 34 people. Egyptian authorities said that attack was linked to Israeli-Palestinian violence, prompting a wave of arrests in Sinai."

BBC article from October 2004 bombing: "Israeli officials say they suspect al-Qaeda involvement in bomb blasts at Egyptian resorts popular with Israelis, in which at least 28 people died."

In looking for a motive, note that the trial of the October 2004 suspects is scheduled for July 24 - Xinhuanet story from July 2: "Egypt's Supreme State Security Court on Saturday put off to July 24 trial of three suspects in connection with three bombings which rocked Sinai resorts last October, the official MENA news agency reported." AFP story: "The trial of three men suspected of involvement in the October bombings opened on July 2 at the high state security court in Ismailiya, northeast of Cairo, and was due to resume on Sunday. One of the men is still at large and being tried in absentia." And see 7/24 AP story: "Egypt's interior minister has said investigators are looking into whether there were links between the (October 2004) Taba and Sharm blasts..."

But we know it's not about Iraq, because "Wait, Egypt doesn't have any troops in Iraq. Or Afghanistan. Nor were there ever."

UPDATE 7/24: Egypt Detains 70 in Resort Bombings.
AFP photos

TrackBack