The 2004 Sinai bombings were three bomb attacks targeting touristhotels in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, on 7 October 2004. The attacks left 34 people dead and 171 injured.
The explosions occurred on the night of 7 October, against the Hilton Taba and campsites used by Israelis in Ras al-Shitan (see in Hebrew). In the Taba attack, a truck drove into the lobby of the Taba Hilton and exploded, killing 31 people and wounding some 159 others. Ten floors of the hotel collapsed following the blast.[1]
Some 50 kilometers (31 mi) south, at campsites at Ras al-Shitan, near Nuweiba, two more sites were targeted. A car parked in front of a restaurant at the Moon Island resort exploded, killing two Israelis and a Bedouin. Twelve were wounded. Another blast happened moments later, targeting the Baddiyah tourist camp, but no one was hurt, apparently because the bomber had been scared off by a guard and did not enter the crowded resort.[2]
According to the Egyptian government, the bombers were Palestinians who had tried to enter Israel to carry out attacks there but were unsuccessful. They claimed that the mastermind, Iyad Saleh, recruited Egyptians and Bedouins to find explosives to be used in the attacks. Beginning in March 2004, the bombers used washing machine timers, mobile phones and modified gas cylinders to build the bombs. They used TNT and old explosives found in the Sinai (as it was many times a war zone), which were purchased from Bedouins, to complete the bombs.[3] Egypt has said that Saleh and one of his aides, Suleiman Ahmed Saleh Flayfil, died in the Hilton blast, apparently because their bomb timer had run out too fast.[4]
Three Egyptians, Younes Mohammed Mahmoud, Osama al-Nakhlawi, and Mohammed Jaez Sabbah were sentenced to death in November 2006 for their roles in the blast.[5] Egypt arrested up to 2,400 people following the attacks.[6]
The initial investigations by the Israeli and Egyptian governments centered on al-Qaeda, with Israeli Foreign MinisterSilvan Shalom saying "The type, the planning, the scope, the simultaneous attacks in a number of places, all this points to al-Qaeda".[7] However, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Majid `Abd al-Fatah later stated that there was no evidence linking the organisation to the attack, instead claiming it was the work of a lone wolf driven by "injustice, aggression and despair" over the Israeli-Palestine conflict.[8]
Aftermath
Israel had warned in September 2004 that terrorists were planning attacks in the Sinai, but most Israelis did not heed those warnings and went on vacation there instead.[9] Many Israelis left the Sinai after the bombings, along with some foreign tourists, but the effects on the country's tourism were not too severe.[citation needed]
^Security questions over Sinai attacks BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^Halawi, Jailan (27 April – 3 May 2006). . Al Ahram Weekly (792). Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
External links
Blasts Hit 3 Egyptian Resorts Popular With Israelis – The New York Times, 8 October 2004
27 people killed in 3 bombings – The New York Times, 8 October 2004
Al-Qaeda suspected in attacks at resorts in Egypt – USA Today, 7 October 2004
Dozens killed in bomb blasts at Sinai resorts – The Guardian, 8 October 2004
Terror bombings hit Taba and Ras a-Satan in Sinai 7-Oct-2004 – Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
March 17, 2023
2004, sinai, bombings, were, three, bomb, attacks, targeting, tourist, hotels, sinai, peninsula, egypt, october, 2004, attacks, left, people, dead, injured, collapsed, wing, taba, hilton, hotelhiltontabarasal, shitanlocationtaba, nuweiba, sinai, peninsula, egy. The 2004 Sinai bombings were three bomb attacks targeting tourist hotels in the Sinai Peninsula Egypt on 7 October 2004 The attacks left 34 people dead and 171 injured 2004 Sinai bombingsCollapsed wing of Taba Hilton HotelHiltonTabaRasal ShitanLocationTaba and Nuweiba Sinai Peninsula EgyptCoordinates29 07 24 43 N 34 41 05 12 E 29 1234528 N 34 6847556 E 29 1234528 34 6847556 29 29 24 20 N 34 53 58 50 E 29 4900556 N 34 8995833 E 29 4900556 34 8995833Date7 October 2004Attack typecar bombingsDeaths34Injured171Perpetratorsmasterminded by Iyad Saleh and carried out by a Palestinian groupMotivepresumably the Israeli Palestinian conflict Israeli rescue team in the aftermath of the attack Contents 1 The bombings 2 The investigation 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksThe bombingsThe explosions occurred on the night of 7 October against the Hilton Taba and campsites used by Israelis in Ras al Shitan see in Hebrew In the Taba attack a truck drove into the lobby of the Taba Hilton and exploded killing 31 people and wounding some 159 others Ten floors of the hotel collapsed following the blast 1 Some 50 kilometers 31 mi south at campsites at Ras al Shitan near Nuweiba two more sites were targeted A car parked in front of a restaurant at the Moon Island resort exploded killing two Israelis and a Bedouin Twelve were wounded Another blast happened moments later targeting the Baddiyah tourist camp but no one was hurt apparently because the bomber had been scared off by a guard and did not enter the crowded resort 2 Of the 34 who were killed 18 were Egyptians 12 were from Israel two from Italy one from Russia and one was an Israeli American The investigationAccording to the Egyptian government the bombers were Palestinians who had tried to enter Israel to carry out attacks there but were unsuccessful They claimed that the mastermind Iyad Saleh recruited Egyptians and Bedouins to find explosives to be used in the attacks Beginning in March 2004 the bombers used washing machine timers mobile phones and modified gas cylinders to build the bombs They used TNT and old explosives found in the Sinai as it was many times a war zone which were purchased from Bedouins to complete the bombs 3 Egypt has said that Saleh and one of his aides Suleiman Ahmed Saleh Flayfil died in the Hilton blast apparently because their bomb timer had run out too fast 4 Three Egyptians Younes Mohammed Mahmoud Osama al Nakhlawi and Mohammed Jaez Sabbah were sentenced to death in November 2006 for their roles in the blast 5 Egypt arrested up to 2 400 people following the attacks 6 The initial investigations by the Israeli and Egyptian governments centered on al Qaeda with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom saying The type the planning the scope the simultaneous attacks in a number of places all this points to al Qaeda 7 However Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Majid Abd al Fatah later stated that there was no evidence linking the organisation to the attack instead claiming it was the work of a lone wolf driven by injustice aggression and despair over the Israeli Palestine conflict 8 AftermathIsrael had warned in September 2004 that terrorists were planning attacks in the Sinai but most Israelis did not heed those warnings and went on vacation there instead 9 Many Israelis left the Sinai after the bombings along with some foreign tourists but the effects on the country s tourism were not too severe citation needed Militants struck again in Cairo at tourists in April 2005 killing three and wounding several Similar attacks took place in resorts in Sharm el Sheikh in July 2005 and in Dahab in 2006 10 See alsoApril 2005 Cairo terrorist attacks 2005 Sharm el Sheikh attacks 2006 Dahab bombings Ras Burqa massacreReferences Death toll rises in Egypt blasts BBC News 9 October 2004 Retrieved 3 January 2013 Penny Spiller 11 October 2004 Taba attacks Shatter Sinai Tourism BBC News Retrieved 3 January 2013 Sinai attackers failed to enter Israel Ynet 4 February 2005 Retrieved 3 January 2014 Egypt jails five in Sinai attacks Washington Post Egyptian Court Condemns 3 Militants The Washington Post 30 November 2006 Mass arrests after Sinai bombs BBC News Retrieved 3 January 2013 Osnos Evan 9 November 2004 Israel says Al Qaeda top suspect in bombings Chicago Tribune Howeidy Amira 3 November 2004 al Ahram Weekly a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Security questions over Sinai attacks BBC News Retrieved 3 January 2013 Halawi Jailan 27 April 3 May 2006 Sects and politics Al Ahram Weekly 792 Archived from the original on 8 May 2013 Retrieved 29 November 2014 External linksBlasts Hit 3 Egyptian Resorts Popular With Israelis The New York Times 8 October 2004 27 people killed in 3 bombings The New York Times 8 October 2004 Al Qaeda suspected in attacks at resorts in Egypt USA Today 7 October 2004 Dozens killed in bomb blasts at Sinai resorts The Guardian 8 October 2004 Terror bombings hit Taba and Ras a Satan in Sinai 7 Oct 2004 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2004 Sinai bombings amp oldid 1143158354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
