Blasts kill 88 in Egyptian Red Sea resort
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-23 08:49

SKELETONS OF TWISTED METAL

Ahmed Mustafa, a waiter at a coffee shop near the first blast, said a fireball tore through a shopping mall car park in Sharm el-Sheikh town at about 1:15 a.m. (2215 GMT on Friday).

Video grab from Egyptian television Egypt TV shows the area after a blast at a hotel in Sharm el- Sheikh in Egypt, July 23, 2005. [Reuters]

The explosion turned cars into skeletons of twisted metal, blew down masonry on nearby buildings and shattered windows for hundreds of metres (yards) around.

Officials said a car had exploded, but a witness said a man had walked into a crowd with a large travel bag and announced in Egyptian Arabic: "I have a bomb."

Some people moved away but others thought he was joking, said the witness, who asked not to be named. Two minutes later an explosion took place where he had put the bag, she added.

Video grab from Egyptian television El Masriya and Nile TV shows people walking among body bags inside an ambulance after a blast in Sharm el- Sheikh, July 23, 2005. [Reuters]

"I saw a car flying up in the air, people running," restaurant owner Yehya Mohammed said by telephone. "I do not think I will ever forget this in my life. This is a horrible setback for tourism here."

Sharm residents said they heard two more explosions coming from Naama Bay in quick succession, blasts that could be felt 10 km (six miles) away. Witnesses said the first of these hit the hotel and the second a taxi rank.

Tourist Fabio Basone said: "People were trying to run in any direction to get away but were not clear where to go."

Mubarak cut short a holiday on the Mediterranean coast and flew to Sharm el-Sheikh, officials said.

He then flew to the rival resort of Hurghada, on the African shore of the Red Sea, to reassure tourists and check security.

The attacks had an immediate impact on tourism as European travellers cancelled trips to the popular destination.

Some already in Sharm el-Sheikh left early for home. But others vowed to go ahead with their holidays, saying they could not avoid bombs wherever they were.

Close

American women call for end of war Israeli forces storm Gaza settlement South Korean, DPRK separated families hold video reunions

Today's Top News     Top World News
Guangzhou oil supply 'returning to normal'         First joint drill with Russia launched         Scotland bank in US$3.1b deal for BOC stake         China-US textile talks make progress         Opinion: Corruption has to stay capital crime         'Bird flu may cause global economic mayhem'	al-Qaida leader in Saudi Arabia killed       Iraq lawmakers work on draft constitution       Israeli forces storm Gaza Synagogues       Encephalitis kills 79 children in India       Almost 90 arrested after Bangladesh bombings       Tigers agree to review Sri Lanka truce, emergency extended