Peter Mitry
<B>Egypt Forum Founder Member</B>
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the British Government have issued warnings against the threat of terrorist attacks in Egypt. This has led to the cancellation of British Airways weekly scheduled flights to Hurghada.
However, the truth, as is so often the case, is that the facts paint a rather different picture particularly to the areas of the Red Sea near to Hurghada.
The following are extracts from the British Government report:
Terrorism
There is a high threat from terrorism in Egypt. Security has been tightened throughout Egypt, especially in resort areas, although the risk of indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners, remains. Egyptian security forces continue to carry out counter-terrorist operations in some areas of Sinai. Security authorities may insist on escorting you in some areas.
On 26 April 2006, there were two suicide bomb attacks at the Multinational Force and Observers base in north Sinai. There were no fatalities.
On 24 April 2006, there were explosions at three separate locations in the resort town of Dahab in the Sinai Peninsular, in which 23 people were killed and more than 60 injured, including three British nationals.
In August 2005, two police vehicles and one Multinational Force and Observers’ vehicle were damaged when three roadside bombs exploded in Northern Sinai. Two policemen were killed and seven others injured.
On 23 July 2005, three bombs exploded in Sharm al-Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula. 63 people, including 11 British nationals, were killed. 124 others were injured in these attacks.
On 30 April 2005, terrorists carried out two suicide bomb attacks in Cairo. Seven civilians, including four foreign nationals, were injured. On 7 April 2005, there was a suicide bomb attack in central Cairo near the Khan El Khalili bazaar, a location frequented by tourists. Three tourists were killed and 19 injured.
On 7 October 2004, three terrorist attacks in resorts and hotels in Taba and near Nuweiba in the Sinai Peninsula killed 34 (including tourists) and injured 159. Prior to these attacks the last terrorist attacks in Egypt were in 1997 in Luxor.
You should be aware that some of these attacks have taken place over local holiday weekends. Egyptian security forces tend to step up their presence at these times. Please read Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas for further information and advice.
Please note that with the exception of April 2005 when there were two attacks in Cairo ALL other incidents have been in the Sinai Peninsula! This is a long way from Hurghada which has been entirely incident free.
This does not mean that the security forces are complacent; far from it! If you don't have a valid licence to work in Hurghada you will not even be allowed into the city at night.
Its time the British Government woke up to the fact that millions of Britains are choosing Egypt for their holidays and to buy second homes. Perhaps the advice to traveller should relate more specifically to the Sinai peninsular. It is entirely misleading to issue general warnings like the one above, when the most affected area is in Sinai, many miles from Hurghada annd the other resort towns.
Even more so when this leads to cancelled flights at a time when we need more not less flights in order to bring prices down. There is a huge opportunity here for Ryan Air!!
However, the truth, as is so often the case, is that the facts paint a rather different picture particularly to the areas of the Red Sea near to Hurghada.
The following are extracts from the British Government report:
Terrorism
There is a high threat from terrorism in Egypt. Security has been tightened throughout Egypt, especially in resort areas, although the risk of indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners, remains. Egyptian security forces continue to carry out counter-terrorist operations in some areas of Sinai. Security authorities may insist on escorting you in some areas.
On 26 April 2006, there were two suicide bomb attacks at the Multinational Force and Observers base in north Sinai. There were no fatalities.
On 24 April 2006, there were explosions at three separate locations in the resort town of Dahab in the Sinai Peninsular, in which 23 people were killed and more than 60 injured, including three British nationals.
In August 2005, two police vehicles and one Multinational Force and Observers’ vehicle were damaged when three roadside bombs exploded in Northern Sinai. Two policemen were killed and seven others injured.
On 23 July 2005, three bombs exploded in Sharm al-Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula. 63 people, including 11 British nationals, were killed. 124 others were injured in these attacks.
On 30 April 2005, terrorists carried out two suicide bomb attacks in Cairo. Seven civilians, including four foreign nationals, were injured. On 7 April 2005, there was a suicide bomb attack in central Cairo near the Khan El Khalili bazaar, a location frequented by tourists. Three tourists were killed and 19 injured.
On 7 October 2004, three terrorist attacks in resorts and hotels in Taba and near Nuweiba in the Sinai Peninsula killed 34 (including tourists) and injured 159. Prior to these attacks the last terrorist attacks in Egypt were in 1997 in Luxor.
You should be aware that some of these attacks have taken place over local holiday weekends. Egyptian security forces tend to step up their presence at these times. Please read Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas for further information and advice.
Please note that with the exception of April 2005 when there were two attacks in Cairo ALL other incidents have been in the Sinai Peninsula! This is a long way from Hurghada which has been entirely incident free.
This does not mean that the security forces are complacent; far from it! If you don't have a valid licence to work in Hurghada you will not even be allowed into the city at night.
Its time the British Government woke up to the fact that millions of Britains are choosing Egypt for their holidays and to buy second homes. Perhaps the advice to traveller should relate more specifically to the Sinai peninsular. It is entirely misleading to issue general warnings like the one above, when the most affected area is in Sinai, many miles from Hurghada annd the other resort towns.
Even more so when this leads to cancelled flights at a time when we need more not less flights in order to bring prices down. There is a huge opportunity here for Ryan Air!!
