Bomb in Egypt. Is everyone ok?

[Benzonar]

Three explosions have just been reported in Sharm. One of which is being reported as massive.

Other two were in Naama bay.

Lets hope there are no casualties but from the sounds of things that is unlikely.

Thoughts to anyone out there.

[Simon L]

Ditto.

I know the place well.

My best wishes to everyone there.

[Benzonar]

Five blasts now reported, three fatalities so far.

[markfm]

Who's covering? CNN?
Got my answer -- it's popping up on all the major online news sites now.

[Benzonar]

I've been watching Sky News, your equivalent would be Fox News.

Would be surprised if CNN didn't cover it.

[Benzonar]

I've been watching Sky News, your equivalent would be Fox News.

Would be surprised if CNN didn't cover it.

20 now reported killed

At least we shot one of them in London today.

[justleesa]

so terrible...http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050722/ts_nm/egypt_explosions_dc

[Azotomix]

Latest news half haor ago you have more than 60 people deat and more than 200 injured.

I have only Italian link so I will not post it here.

WHERE ARE WE GOING??? GOD ONLY KNOWS...

[DandyDon]

From AOL News: http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050722191409990002&ncid=NWS00010000000001

Blasts Rock Egyptian Resort, Killing at Least 49
Witness Says One Hotel Was 'Completely Burned Down, Destroyed'
By LEE KEATH, AP

CAIRO, Egypt (July 23) - Three car bombs exploded in quick succession in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik early Saturday, ripping through a hotel and a cafe packed with European and Egyptian tourists. The province governor said at least 49 people died in the deadliest attack in Egypt in nearly a decade.

The powerful blasts, beginning at 1:15 a.m., rattled windows miles away and sent panicked vacationers streaming out of hotels and clubs. Smoke and fire rose from Naama Bay, a main strip of beach hotels in the desert city at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, also popular with Israeli tourists, witnesses said.

Dazed tourists milled about the darkened streets as Egyptian rescuers searched for dead and injured. Bodies of the dead lay under white sheets or were loaded in plastic bags into ambulances, while other emergency vehicles sped away with the wounded.

''There seemed to be a lot of bodies strewn across the road'' near one cafe, Chris Reynolds, a policeman visiting from Birmingham, England, told the BBC by telephone. ''It was horrendous.''

One of the explosives-laden cars smashed through security into the front driveway of the Ghazala Gardens hotel and exploded, said South Sinai province's governor, Mustafa Afifi - suggesting it was a suicide bomber, though he did not specify that.

Large swaths of the front walls of the hotel - a sprawling 176-room resort complex about three stories tall and surrounded by gardens - were collapsed and burned. The reception area was ''completely burned down, destroyed,'' Amal Mustafa, 28, an Egyptian visiting Sharm with her family, told The Associated Press after driving by the site.


Reaction to the Egypt Bombings


Source: ESRI / AP"There seemed to be a lot of bodies strewn across the road."
-- Chris Reynolds, British Policeman

"[The Ghazala was] completely burned down, destroyed."
-- Amal Mustafa, a visiting Egyptian

''It was mass hysteria really. We tried to calm people down. We were virtually thrown from the cafe.''
-- Charlie Ives, a vacationing London police officer

"There can be no excuse for the targeting of innocent civilians."
-- Kurtis Cooper, a State Department spokesman,
Sources: AP



A second car bomb exploded in a parking area near the Movenpick Hotel, also in Naama Bay, said a receptionist there who declined to identify himself.

The third detonated at a minibus parking lot in the Old Market, an area about 2 1/2 miles away, killing 17 people - believed to be Egyptians - sitting at a nearby outdoor coffee shop, said a security official in the operations control room in Cairo monitoring the crisis. Three minibuses were set ablaze. It was not clear if they were carrying passengers, the official said.

After the blast, ''I went to my balcony and saw fire and smoke rising from the car that exploded, which was a taxi,'' said Ibrahim al-Said, 35, a Sudanese man who lives in the Old Market.

Afifi, speaking to the state news agency, put the toll at 49 killed. Security officials said around 200 were wounded. They - like the crisis control room official - spoke on condition of anonymity because they were releasing information not yet announced by the Interior Ministry. The ministry's toll stood at 31 dead and 107 wounded.

The control room official had initially said as many as seven blasts may have gone off, four of them car bombs, but he later corrected that report, saying witnesses and police had been thrown off by echoes and secondary blasts.

The dead included British, Russian, Dutch, Kuwaitis, Saudis, Qataris and Egyptians, a security official said.

The attacks came nine months after a series of explosions hit several hotels in the Sinai resorts of Taba and Ras ****an, about 100 miles northwest on the Israel border. Egyptian authorities said that attack, which killed 34 and prompted a wave of arrests in Sinai, was linked to Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Saturday's bombings were the deadliest since 1997, when Islamic militants killed 58 foreign tourists and four Egyptians at the Pharaonic Temple of Hatshepsut outside Luxor in southern Egypt.

President Hosni Mubarak has a residence in Sharm el-Sheik, at a resort several miles outside Naama Bay and often spends weeks there at a time in the winter. But during the summer, he stays at a residence in the northern city of Alexandria.

A London police officer, Charlie Ives, who was on vacation, told BBC Television that he was in a street cafe about 50 meters away from where two explosions went off.

''It was mass hysteria really. We tried to calm people down,'' he said. He said the blast was so strong, ''We were virtually thrown from the cafe.''

Another British tourist, Fabio Basone, was in Naama Bay's Hard Rock Cafe when he heard a small explosion, then a larger one.

''We went outside on to the street where we were met with hundreds of people running and screaming in all directions,'' he told BBC. ''I saw the front of a hotel had been blown away. ... There were two bodies on the floor but I don't know if they were dead.''

Scores of ambulances from cities from the northern Sinai were headed to Sharm to help. Doctors from the Health Ministry were boarding planes for Sharm from Cairo.

Kurtis Cooper, a State Department spokesman, said the United States condemned the attacks and offered assistance to the Egyptian government.

''There can be no excuse for the targeting of innocent civilians,'' Cooper said.

Egyptian Tourism Minister Ahmed al Maghrabi said the attacks were ''meant to terrorize people and prevent them from moving and traveling.'' Speaking to the Nile News Channel, he said they would not hurt Egypt's crucial tourism industry.

Thousands of tourists are drawn to Sharm for its sun, clear blue water and coral reefs. It also has been a meeting place where world leaders have tried to hammer out a Mideast peace agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met there in February and agreed to a cease-fire.

AP correspondents Sarah El Deeb, Paul Garwood, Nadia Abou El-Magd and Salah Nasrawi in Cairo contributed to this report.


07-22-05 23:37 EDT

[ArthurGerla]

The important thing, I feel, is to remember that these criminals want to cause disruption and despair among their own people, thus driving them into the arms of a fundamentalist dicatorship. We must not allow them to succeed.

I had just booked a last minute trip to Sharm for next wednesday. I'm still going.

Art

[MacRS4]

The important thing, I feel, is to remember that these criminals want to cause disruption and despair among their own people, thus driving them into the arms of a fundamentalist dicatorship. We must not allow them to succeed.

I had just booked a last minute trip to Sharm for next wednesday. I'm still going.

Art

I'm off there on Saturday - being a London'er I'm getting used to the bombings. Used to is the wrong term but can't think of a better way of putting it.

I won't let them affect my life if I can help it.

[mania]

Somebody has decided to ruin my world. City I love and know almost every brick there.....
I woke up today morning and found out the news. Franticly called my friends - thanks God they are all OK.
But more that 70 dead - my deepest condolencec to their families and to Egyptians.
If I get my hands on one of these terrorists - can't guarantee that I wouldn't turn into a murderer....
Mania

[sexyscubagirl]

Bomb in Sharm el Shek.... right in front of Sinai Divers and the market just near KFC .

god I use to be so close from there...

is everyone ok ?

Hope all of the divers in Sharm and their friends and family are ok .


Another sad day....

[Lawrence914]

Someone called me this morning to tell me about it. I usually avoid the news because it's so depressing.

I have friends in Sharm, it's a beautiful little town. I hope everything is okay.

Why would someone bomb a town like that? :(

-Lawrence

[NWGratefulDiver]

Why would someone bomb a town like that? :(

-Lawrence
Same reason they'd bomb anywhere else ...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002397615_egypt23.html

My heart goes out to those who have been affected by this act of lunacy ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[mania]

I have merged two threads that were on the same topic
Mania

[DandyDon]

The important thing, I feel, is to remember that these criminals want to cause disruption and despair among their own people, thus driving them into the arms of a fundamentalist dicatorship. We must not allow them to succeed.

I had just booked a last minute trip to Sharm for next wednesday. I'm still going.

Art
^^^^ What he said...!! ^^^^


The losses have been updated this morning - it was worse: http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050722191409990002&ncid=NWS00010000000001

Blasts Rock Egyptian Resort, Killing at Least 83
By SARAH EL DEEB, AP

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (July 23) - A rapid series of car bombs and another blast ripped through a luxury hotel and a coffeeshop in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik early Saturday, killing at least 83, a hospital official said. Terrified European and Arab tourists fled into the night, and rescue workers said the death toll could still rise.

[phrixus]

I'm off there on Saturday - being a London'er I'm getting used to the bombings. Used to is the wrong term but can't think of a better way of putting it.

I won't let them affect my life if I can help it.

I'm thinking the same myself, there's far too much panic in London at the moment regarding terrorism, we've lived with bombings for years & they've not broken us yet.
The only thing that will stop me going out to Sharm is if the planes aren't there to take me! The only way to fight terrorism is to show that we're not going to be beaten easily & to carry on as normal!
Spoke to my friend at Emperor Divers this morning & they're all OK, lets hope there are no more deaths/bombs.
It's a sad day for Red Sea diving but let's not let these ******ers win, get out there & dive!

[phrixus]

20 now reported killed

At least we shot one of them in London today.

Sadly we didn't (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4711021.stm)

[circusoflife]

I'm thinking the same myself, there's far too much panic in London at the moment regarding terrorism, we've lived with bombings for years & they've not broken us yet.
The only thing that will stop me going out to Sharm is if the planes aren't there to take me! The only way to fight terrorism is to show that we're not going to be beaten easily & to carry on as normal!
Spoke to my friend at Emperor Divers this morning & they're all OK, lets hope there are no more deaths/bombs.
It's a sad day for Red Sea diving but let's not let these ******ers win, get out there & dive!

Does it ever occur to anyone that maybe we shouldn't just go back to normal?
Does anybody really dig deep and think about why people wake up one day (After who knows how long) and decide to blow themselves up.

Answer that...and terrorism will be on its way down.

[phrixus]

Does it ever occur to anyone that maybe we shouldn't just go back to normal?
Does anybody really dig deep and think about why people wake up one day (After who knows how long) and decide to blow themselves up.

Answer that...and terrorism will be on its way down.

A lot of the more 'extreme' religious groups have a tendancy to brainwash they're followers who will do anything if they thinks it's Gods will.

[scubaculture]

I got back from Sharm a week ago, my condolences to everyone suffering from the loss of a loved one

[getwet2]

Does it ever occur to anyone that maybe we shouldn't just go back to normal?
Does anybody really dig deep and think about why people wake up one day (After who knows how long) and decide to blow themselves up.

Answer that...and terrorism will be on its way down.
It's either Religion or Politics, take your pick. Get rid of both and you would solve alot of the worlds problems and prevent some wars.

There are alot of weak minded people in the world that get brain washed into things because they are told that it's God's Will. If you don't like the name God choose what ever other name you want to use, it really doesn't matter because there can be only one no matter what name you use.

Here's something else for people to think about and I know I'll probably piss alot of people off but I really don't care, everyone is free to have their own thoughts and beliefs. With the way we as humans tell stories, you know, always trying to make it a little bit "better" or more "believable". Can you really believe everything in a book that is thousands of years old? It's been rewritten and translated how many times? By how many over zealous story tellers? Really, come on now, NOOOOO one exagerated anything in all that time, I don't think so.

Ya I know, I'm going to hell, my wife tells me this all the time but if all these so called Religious people are getting into heaven with all the crap they have done just because they confessed, do I really want to go there. I think I'll just wait and find out, if there is a God and he/she is judging then let him/her judge, they will know the truth. If I've really been that bad of a person during my life then so be it, personally I don't think I'll worry about it to much.

Just my $0.02

[diverrick]

Add one more country to the list of those who have been attacked by these radicals. The more countries these people blow themselves up in, with innocent people with them, the less those countries and peoples will want to protect them in the future. If they keep it up, they will have no place to go, no place to hide. All people all over the world need to look at their neighbors,co-workers and friends and turn them in if they are up to no good or even if you suspect them. better safe than sorry IMHO The only reason they still can go on, is that others are still, looking the other way, protecting them and supporting them. No safe havens for terrorists! We live in a sad time in history right now. My condolenses to all who have lost love ones, or were injured by these mindless acts. WE shall overcome.

[divebunnie]

Hey guys,

Have just read some of the messages here.

Well it has been an emotional few days here in Sharm. Thankfully I can confirm that all the Ocean College instructors and staff are OK. This is by no small miracle, as Friday night is usually our party night, and had it been any other week, 1.30 am would have seen many of us wandering along to the taxi rank a little worse for wear. As it was, this week many of us were tired so enjoyed an evening out closer to home and an early night.

At the moment I am still a little shell-shocked myself, and for once grateful that I had been totally boring and gone home to bed.

My thoughts right now are with my friends who saw sights no normal person should have to see, and the families of those who are still missing.

Sharm is a little quieter at the moment with some of the European tourists being taken out of the country and less sun-seekers than normal. However we are still here and still up and running, along with all the other dive centres. Whilst I appreciate that for some, carrying on in this way may not be what they want to do, but to lie down and let the terrorists win just isn't an option in my book.

Peace to everyone

[Azza]

Does it ever occur to anyone that maybe we shouldn't just go back to normal?
Does anybody really dig deep and think about why people wake up one day (After who knows how long) and decide to blow themselves up.

Answer that...and terrorism will be on its way down.

I believe it's a human trait, that we all have to one degree or another. We seem to think that what we believe, or how we live, is the best way, so we try to force others to believe/live in a similar fashion, whether it be religon or politics.

Humans just need to chill out and embrace the cultural/religous/political differences in each other and realise that the world would be a boring place if we were all the same.

My condolences to all the dead, injured and their families.

[DomaNitrogen]

Hey,

I am Egyptian and i think that this tragedy happened all over the globe no where is safe now. And to just quit my normal life to feel more safe is not going to help much cause it could happen anywhere. Just go out there and Enjoy ur life.

I will not stop going to sharm,hurghada or dahab and if those ****S when blow me up then let them do it while i am Enjoying life.

I still belive that Egpyt is one of the safest places to be, so get out there and dive.

My lost words go to those who lost some1 "I m sure that every1 that goes to sharm will think of those who lost there lives there and i am sure every dive there will taste different"

BR
Dome

[Marek K]

Hey,

I am Egyptian and i think that this tragedy happened all over the globe no where is safe now. And to just quit my normal life to feel more safe is not going to help much cause it could happen anywhere. Just go out there and Enjoy ur life.

I will not stop going to sharm,hurghada or dahab and if those ****S when blow me up then let them do it while i am Enjoying life.

I still belive that Egpyt is one of the safest places to be, so get out there and dive.

My lost words go to those who lost some1 "I m sure that every1 that goes to sharm will think of those who lost there lives there and i am sure every dive there will taste different"

BR
Dome
Welcome to ScubaBoard, Doma! Good to see you here.

We just got back from two weeks at Makadi... just before the Sharm el-Sheik bombings. I agree, we felt very safe there... though the Makadi TUI complex is a very controlled environment.

We were planning to check out the Sharm side of the Red Sea next year... I see no reason why we still shouldn't.

--Marek

[DomaNitrogen]

Thanks Marek,

Well hope to see u in Egypt and all the good buddys...

Doma

[circusoflife]

...and politics and religion is related to mindless consumerism and the collective decisions WE make. Whether that means fight or flight (toward corporations and idiot govts)

..but hey...let's keep voting for 'free' trade. It sounds so good. Because free really is free isn't it?

:cwmddd:

:hai:

[ArthurGerla]

I returned from Sharm tonight. There was a lot more police on the streets than a month ago (rumor has it the entire Sharm police force has been transferred to other towns as a punishment and replaced by fresh forces from Cairo). Rules that were put in place last year after Taba and had been pretty much relaxed last month (like taxis and such are not allowed to drive right up to hotel entrances) are enforced again, and barriers are being erected.

At the entrance to the main jetty area in the harbor all bags are searched for bombs, which is kinda silly as at the same time and in true Egyptian fashion carts loaded with equipment crates and tanks are waved right through.

Apparently Mubarak is in town, because yesterday morning the road between the airport and his usual resort was lined with police, one every fifty meters on both sides, as well as plainclothes guys further out. There was some coastguard activity too, and dayboats to and from the straits of Tiran have to stay much further out from the coast than usual. A Huey helicopter was ferrying supplies to Tiran island, and there was a string of lights on the summit after dark. Apparently some kind of camp or observation post has been established there.

The two bombed sites are hidden from view and reconstruction is already in full swing. Naama bay and the old market aren't bustling with people as they might have been, but they aren't empty either. My dive center had to let go some guides and a boat, but won't go under. The diving is as great as ever. Check out this huge Napoleon (http://www.lakediving.nl/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&pos=-2198).

Art

[static_apnea]

Staff from Sinai Divers... where the first bomb exploted are safe. Thanks god. you can see more info in their website sinaidivers.com