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Aim, identity of Egypt's triple bombing culprits not known

Atul Aneja

Many foreigners among those killed, injured; eight arrested

DUBAI: Egyptian authorities investigating Monday's triple bombing at a coastal Sinai resort town have made eight arrests but are still far from establishing the identity of the bombers and the motivation for the attack.

Egyptian officials say 18 persons, comprising 12 Egyptians and six foreigners were killed, revising their earlier death toll figure of 23. The foreigners killed include one Russian, a Swiss national, a Lebanese and a five-year-old German child. Many Europeans were among the 62 persons who were injured. These included three Danes, three Britons, two Italians, two Germans, two French people, a South Korean, a Lebanese, a Palestinian, and an American.

The bombings began at around 7:15 p.m., local time in the centre of the city of Dahab, a resort straddling the Red Sea coast along the Gulf of Aqaba.

Analysts point out that the timing of the attack was significant. It coincided with the observance of Easter on Sunday by the region's Coptic Christians, who have been targeted in Egypt recently.

Popular resort

The bombings also took place when Egypt, a major western ally, was celebrating "liberation day," marking the end of Israeli occupation of Sinai in 1982. The Sinai resorts have been popular with Israelis, who had been observing Passover holidays. However, only one Israeli was injured as most of the holidaymakers had returned home a few days ago.

Islamist militants have mounted serious attacks in the Sinai peninsula in recent years. Nearly 70 persons were killed during the July 2005 bombings in the resort town of Sham el-Sheikh. Less than a year earlier, bombers had struck the Taba resort close to the border with Israel, killing several Israeli tourists.

Monday's attacks occurred a day after the Al Jazeera television broadcast an audiotape of Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden.

However, there was no evidence yet that the Al-Qaeda network was behind the attacks.

Egyptian investigators have been veering to the view that suicide bombers carried out at least two of the attacks, revising their earlier assertion that timed devises were used for the detonations.

Officials have denied that the incident would have a negative impact on tourism, a prized revenue earner. A leading European travel and tourism company declared suspension of all tours and excursions to the Sinai peninsula following the bombings.

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