Group that attacked tour bus in Egypt was inspired by militant outfit Al Qaeda
19 Feb 2014 11:10 PM GMT
The bombing on Sunday, near the Taba border crossing with Israel, was the first targeting tourists since the military overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July sparked a militant campaign that has killed scores of police and soldiers.
A shift to ‘soft targets’ such as tourists would further damage Egypt’s foundering tourism industry as army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to announce a presidential bid which would focus on law-and-order and economic recovery.
After reviewing CCTV footage of the attack, police said they believe a suicide bomber boarded the tourist bus and detonated explosives near the door.
‘The preliminary investigation shows some tourists disembarked to get their bags. A man walked to the bus. There was an explosion when he reached the third step,’ interior ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif told AFP.
The Al Qaeda inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group, based in the Sinai Peninsula, has deployed several suicide bombers in attacks on police, as well as in a failed attempt to assassinate interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim in September.
The military has sent tanks and troops to combat the militants. It said in a statement that five extremists were killed in army operations in northern Sinai on Monday.
A shift to ‘soft targets’ such as tourists would further damage Egypt’s foundering tourism industry as army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to announce a presidential bid which would focus on law-and-order and economic recovery.
After reviewing CCTV footage of the attack, police said they believe a suicide bomber boarded the tourist bus and detonated explosives near the door.
‘The preliminary investigation shows some tourists disembarked to get their bags. A man walked to the bus. There was an explosion when he reached the third step,’ interior ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif told AFP.
The Al Qaeda inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group, based in the Sinai Peninsula, has deployed several suicide bombers in attacks on police, as well as in a failed attempt to assassinate interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim in September.
The military has sent tanks and troops to combat the militants. It said in a statement that five extremists were killed in army operations in northern Sinai on Monday.
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