Britons wounded after Egypt blasts
Britons wounded after Egypt blasts
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Tuesday, 25, Apr 2006 05:00
Two British holidaymakers are being treated in Cairo hospitals after being caught up in the Egyptian explosions that left at least 23 people dead.
The Foreign Office this morning confirmed that two British citizens were among at least 62 people injured after three explosions rocked the tourist area in the Egyptian holiday town of Dahab last night.
They have now been taken to the Egyptian capital for further treatment, while officials continue to check to see if any other British nationals were involved.
Foreign secretary Jack Straw condemned the attack and said that the unknown terrorists behind it had again "demonstrated their callous disregard for human life".
"Our ambassador, Sir Derek Plumbly, is en route to Dahab with a team from our embassy in Cairo, and will be doing everything possible to offer assistance to all British citizens in the area," he added.
"I have sent a message of condolences and solidarity to the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and we are in close touch with the Egyptian authorities."
The blasts occurred in the popular scuba diving resort at around 18:15 BST last night, on an Egyptian public holiday.
The interior ministry has so far counted four foreign nationals among the dead, believed to include a young German boy, but that toll is set to rise as the area is popular with divers and backpackers.
A cafe worker who was close to the blast said: "We saw many dead people. People were screaming. People were being taken to hospital. Egyptians went to give blood. There were body parts. There's police everywhere."
The blasts are thought to have been remotely detonated rather than the work of suicide bombers.
Explosions ripped through the Nelson Restaurant, the Aladdin Cafeteria and the Ghazala Supermarket, all places used by tourists.
This is the third time since 2004 that a set of three explosions have taken place on the Sinai Peninsula.
On each occasion tourist resorts were targeted during Egyptian holidays when many locals head out of the towns.
In July last year 67 people were killed in the resort of Sharm el-Sheiklh and in October 2004 a further 34 people died in an attack on the Hilton hotel in Taba.