Bombings at Egyptian Resort of Dahab Recall Sharm el-Sheikh Attacks (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Three explosions Monday night rocked the Egyptian resort city of Dahab, 200 miles southeast of Cairo in the Sinai peninsula, at the height of the tourist season (early reports of four explosions not true). Reports disagree on the exact location of the bombs: a hotel cafeteria, a bridge, and a restaurant or market area appear as the targets in many reports, and possibly a police station. Casualty report: up to 30 dead, at least 150 wounded (Reuters reports 160 wounded). Israel's Ambassador to Egypt is quoted as saying that the blasts "were set off by pre-set time bombs and not by car bombs or suicide terrorists." Today is a national holiday in Egypt, and the resorts are packed. No group had claimed responsibility as of 4 pm ET.

Walid Phares comments on MSNBC: Must have been insiders in the hotels and a terrorist network in place in the area which planned the attacks. Egyptian security believes this was a complicated operation - Al Qaeda links are possible, but not certain.

Jerusalem Post: "(A) high ranking Israeli security official recently told the Jerusalem Post that the al-Qaida movement was operating a mere 30 kilometers south of Israel." Another Israeli article raises the Al Qaeda issue.

Just last week, Egyptian authorities arrested 22 men calling itself the "Victorious Group" and allegedly planning bomb attacks on tourist targets, a gas pipeline near Cairo and Muslim and Christian religious leaders.

Last year on July 22 (July 23 in Egypt), terrorists attacked the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. Egyptian authorities moved swiftly to arrest suspects in that case. We posted about that attack several times:

My July 22 running news summary of bombings which killed scores of tourists - includes links to stories about the 2004 attack there which killed 34 people.

Evan Kohlmann: "London, Taba, and Sharm el-Sheikh" on July 25 and "Egyptian Group With Apparent Zarqawi Link Claims Responsibility for Sharm el-Sheikh Bombings" on July 26.

Reuters notes that the two Sharm el-Sheikh attacks were on Egyptian holidays -- October 6 and July 23. "Monday's explosions coincided with the ancient spring festival of Shamm el-Nessim, when Egyptians head out of town."

Reuters picture of bomb site

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