EGYPT: Security on alert around scene of bomb attack in Cairo which killed one French tourist

Record ID: 356844

  • Title: EGYPT: Security on alert around scene of bomb attack in Cairo which killed one French tourist
  • Date: 23rd February 2009
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 23, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF SQUARE NEAR HOTEL IN KHAN AL-KHALILI MARKET SOUVENIR SHOP BENEATH AL-HUSSEIN HOTEL REMAINS OF BENCH DESTROYED BY BOMB NEAR SQUARE SITE WHERE BOMB IMPACTED AND REMAINS OF BENCH HOLE IN GROUND LEFT BY BLAST REMAINS OF STONE BENCH DESTROYED BY BOMB AREA WHERE BLOOD STAINS HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY TO HOTEL SECURITY OFFICERS
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA2BE4F4FXVPYIVNP0ILLIX5X0Q
  • Story Text: Security was tight this morning at the scene of a bomb attack in Cairo last night that killed one French tourist.
    Security has been stepped up at a popular Egyptian market where last night a bomb blast killed a French tourist, with only a trickle of tourists visiting the usually bustling area this morning.
    A bomb placed under a bench in a crowded square near a hotel in the Khan al-Khalili bazaar killed a French teenager and wounded at least 20 other just after sundown on Sunday.
    The blast was the first fatal bomb attack on tourists in Egypt since bombs killed at least 23 people at an Egyptian resort in the Sinai peninsula in 2006.
    Sunday's attack hit near the 14th century Khan el-Khalili market in eastern Cairo, where tourists shop for trinkets and sit at outdoor cafes.
    Today there was a heavy security presence at the market, and blood stains that had stained the pavement last night had mostly been washed away.
    One tourist who came to Khan al-Khalili this morning said the attack would not ruin her holiday in Egypt.
    "I mean, it's really for the pyramids that I have come, but it's a nice city around so it's also nice, and I think these explosions they can happen anywhere. It's a pity that it happens, but it doesn't matter really where. It's good when it's not happening, but…," said Katya Shlachter from St. Petersburg Russia.
    The Egyptian authorities later removed debris from the attack.
    Egypt's health ministry has said that a 17-year-old French girl was killed and 13 French tourists, three Saudis, and four Egyptians were wounded.
    A similar blast in the same area killed three tourists in 2005.
    An Indian man working in Egypt, Raguh Ramajura, said he and his wife had come to shop in the market despite hearing about the attack.
    "Actually yesterday at that time we are not here, yesterday we are here at five p.m. and we have gone back to hotel and today morning we heard about that bomb blast here, and today morning they told us that this is under control so that's why we came here again for shopping," he said.
    Tourism in Egypt, the most populous Arab country, reached record levels last year after a lull in attacks over the last few years. Tourism is one of Egypt's top hard currency earner.
    Today many shopkeepers expressed fears that the attacks would hurt their livelihoods.
    One man said that business was already hurting before the attacks.
    "Generally, before this incident, in the three months before, in general there were relatively few tourists, let's say 35% of the normal amount. But now, after this incident, there's going to be a huge impact of course. And to demonstrate this, of course, this morning there should be tourist buses at 8:30 in the morning, tourist buses in the square here, and a good number of tourists… but today it's as you see," said Tarek Ahmed Al-Sayed.
    Another shopkeeper, who said that no Egyptian or Muslim could possibly have carried out the attack, which took place near the venerated Hussein mosque, also said he feared tourists would now stay away.
    ""Of course it will have an impact. This is a market, and it depends on tourism, so why should it be open? Who is going to come? Who is going to buy anything? They will say to you, we are not going to go. And on top of that [points to mosque] that was a holy place," said the man, who did not give his name.
    There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
    Islamic militants have hit Egypt's tourist industry in recent decades through bomb and shooting attacks.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register