Explosion tears through Egyptian resort

An explosion tore through a resort hotel in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday last night, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 160, officials said. Some reports put the toll at 35.

Israeli security officials said a car bomb caused the explosion, which was followed by two smaller blasts at other tourist sites in the Sinai. Egyptian officials were investigating the blasts, but could not confirm witness reports that car bombs caused all three.

The huge blast collapsed a 10-story wing of the luxury Hilton hotel built by Israel when it controlled Taba from 1967 to 1989. Israeli security officials told The Associated Press they were convinced it was caused by a car bomb.

Israelis described a chaotic scene as the explosion brought the top floors of the hotel crashing into the lobby.

Four hours after the blast, Israel’s military took command of the scene, according to the army spokeswoman, Brig. Gen. Ruth Yaron, but there were delays in sending Israeli forces and rescue workers across the tense border.

Egypt put the death toll at 30, and the Interior Ministry said 12 Egyptians were among the dead. Israel Radio reported this morning that at least 35 people were killed.

The explosions came a month after the Israeli government urged citizens not to visit Egypt, citing a “concrete” terror threat to tourists in an area. The warning, issued Sept. 9 by the counterterrorism centre in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s office, identified the Sinai Peninsula as the target of a potential attack.

The initial blast, about 10pm local time, rocked the Hilton hotel in the Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border.

Two hours later, two smaller blasts struck the area of Ras Shitan, a camping area near the town of Nuweiba south of Taba, witnesses said. Egyptian hospital officials said four people were killed in those explosions, and Israel’s Channel 10 TV said two Israelis died.

No established groups have claimed responsibility for the bombing, but two previously unknown groups each said they carried it out.