Scores of Israelis, killed, injured in Sinai explosions

The Egyptian security forces raised the state of Alert in its lines and provided more security forces to the touristic sites in Sinai after three explosions by booby trapped cars hit Egyptian touristic resorts on the Red Sea in Taba, and Nweibe' on Thursday evening and this resulted in killing 35 persons and injuring other 160 most of them are Israelis.

Egyptian security sources said yesterday it closed Taba's land crossing and tightened security measures at Cairo airport following the explosions.

The Egyptian Middle East news Agency MENA quoted a security source as saying that the authorities closed all doors conducive to the site of the explosions in each of Taba and Nweibe' and also Sharm Esh Sheikh and placed barriers, kilometers from the entrances to Taba and Nweibe' to prevent entry and exit.

The Egyptian security forces also imposed tough security measures on all air flights from Cairo International Airport and started revision of the names of flights passengers and departure and arrival measures in the airport's two old and new halls.

The first explosion took place in Hilton Hotel in Taba and was followed by two explosions in Nweib' and Raas al-Sheitan resorts which are scores of kilometers to the south west of Taba. The most violent of these explosions resulted in the collapse of several floors in the Hilton hotel.

On the victims of the hotel, officials and media people confirmed that 35 persons were killed and other 160 injured. However, a spokesman for the Egyptian ministry of the interior said that 12 persons were killed and 135 injured. The governor of southern Sinai, Mustafa Afifi, said that two of the explosions which targeted Egyptian tourist resorts overlook the Red Sea trodden by Israeli tourists, might have resulted from an attack by booby trapped cars, noting that small trucks were found totally burnt.

No side claimed responsibility for the attack. Egyptian officials say they do not have evidence on that these explosions are terrorist acts, while Israel expects the operation which was described as terrorist to have been an act by al-Qaida.

The Israeli security forces warned its citizens from visiting the Egyptian resorts that overlook the Red Sea, saying that Palestinian attackers or other Islamist activists might have targeted it.

Thousands of Israelis traveled to Sinai in Egypt. a famous tourism destination during " the Jewish al-Mazalla vacation." Witnesses said that Russians were also in the hotel. N.