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Sinai attacks: Islamist claim tourist bus bomb attack | Sinai attacks: Islamist claim tourist bus bomb attack |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Islamist militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has said it carried out a deadly bomb attack on a tourist bus in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Sunday. | |
The group warned it was part of its "economic war" against the current Egyptian authorities, which it described as "traitors". | The group warned it was part of its "economic war" against the current Egyptian authorities, which it described as "traitors". |
Three South Koreans and an Egyptian were killed in the attack. | Three South Koreans and an Egyptian were killed in the attack. |
The Sinai peninsula has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. | The Sinai peninsula has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. |
Militants further stepped up their attacks after President Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the army last year. | Militants further stepped up their attacks after President Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the army last year. |
Tourism industry fears | Tourism industry fears |
In a statement, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis said one its members carried out the bombing. | |
"With God's will we will be watching this treacherous gang of infiltrators and we will target their economic interests," it said. | "With God's will we will be watching this treacherous gang of infiltrators and we will target their economic interests," it said. |
This was the first attack on tourists in nearly a decade, raising fears that the militants have renewed a campaign to wreck the flagging tourism industry. | This was the first attack on tourists in nearly a decade, raising fears that the militants have renewed a campaign to wreck the flagging tourism industry. |
The bus was reported to be heading into Israel from St Catherine's monastery, a popular tourist destination near Mount Sinai, when it was attacked. | The bus was reported to be heading into Israel from St Catherine's monastery, a popular tourist destination near Mount Sinai, when it was attacked. |
South Korea's foreign ministry said on Monday that the bus was carrying 31 tourists, plus three tour guides - two Korean and one Egyptian. | South Korea's foreign ministry said on Monday that the bus was carrying 31 tourists, plus three tour guides - two Korean and one Egyptian. |
Those who died were the two South Korean tour guides, a Korean tourist and the Egyptian driver, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the ministry. | Those who died were the two South Korean tour guides, a Korean tourist and the Egyptian driver, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the ministry. |
Fourteen other South Koreans were taken to hospital. | Fourteen other South Koreans were taken to hospital. |
The passengers were members of a church group on a 12-day tour of religious sites in Turkey, Egypt and Israel, the South Korean news agency said. | The passengers were members of a church group on a 12-day tour of religious sites in Turkey, Egypt and Israel, the South Korean news agency said. |
The exact cause of the blast is not clear. One report describes a young man throwing a device into the vehicle, another - citing South Korea's ambassador to Egypt - says the man boarded the bus. | The exact cause of the blast is not clear. One report describes a young man throwing a device into the vehicle, another - citing South Korea's ambassador to Egypt - says the man boarded the bus. |
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