Islamic State affiliate Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province) has reportedly claimed responsibility for an attack on a tour bus at the Three Pyramids Hotel, near the Giza pyramids, following a call from its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to target Jews everywhere.
Risk & Security SolutionsNo casualties were reported in the attack by two masked gunmen on 14 January. Egypt’s Interior Ministry claimed that it was directed at security forces. Light arms including birdshot, fireworks and fire bombs were reportedly used by a mob of around 15 which had gathered near the hotel. Egyptian police responded with gunfire.
Close to 40 Israeli tourists were reportedly boarding the bus at the time of the attack. A spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated that the bus was used by a group of Arab Israeli tourists, but that the bus was empty at the time of the incident.
The Three Pyramids Hotel is located on a road leading to the Giza pyramids, which are southwest of the capital Cairo.
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Sinai Province also claimed responsibility for an attack on a natural gas pipeline in El-Arish, northern Sinai the following day, but Egyptian security forces expressed doubts about their capabilities.
One gunman was arrested at the scene, and another reportedly arrested later in the day. A further ten Muslim Brotherhood activists were reportedly arrested in response to the incident, including senior member Abed Al A’al Al Asiri and two of his sons.
An eyewitness claimed that when the mob assembled near the bus, shooting from the Egyptian police occurred before any violence, and that a member of the mob turned back after approaching the bus with a firebomb when he realised that the tourists were Israeli Arabs.
The lack of sophistication in the weaponry of the attackers, and lack of knowledge of the apparent targets indicate that the attack itself was hastily planned and poorly organised. Nevertheless, the desire to attack Israelis was still apparent, and Israelis in Egypt should continue to take enhanced precautions.
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