News & Politics - Terror Attacks in Egypt and Sri Lanka

Lexis · 04-25-2006, 08:39 AM

Long war indeed.

Quote:

Police arrested 10 people Tuesday and divers retrieved body parts from the sea after three bombs ripped apart a Sinai beach resort at the height of Egypt's tourist season, killing 24 people and injuring more than 80, many of them foreigners.

It was the third terrorist attack on a Sinai resort in less than two years to coincide with a national holiday. It also seemed to open a rift between hard-line al-Qaida sympathizers and other radical Muslim groups, such as Hamas, which immediately condemned the bombings.

Security police said they had detained for questioning 10 people — three of whom had arrived in Dahab on Sunday and tried to leave the resort 15 minutes after the blasts. The police said they did not yet know if the explosions — timed for maximum destruction in a promenade of bars, restaurants and shops in the early evening — were caused by suicide attackers or bombs on timers.

"The theory is not clear yet," Cabinet spokesman Magdy Rady told The Associated Press.

The blasts were so powerful that police divers worked Tuesday to retrieve body parts from the shallow waters of the sea, as workers swept shards of glass from the streets. At one spot near the beach, two black sandals lay in a pool of blood on a wooden footbridge.

Nearby, outside the supermarket where one blast struck, a tiny shoe covered in blood lay on top of a baby stroller. Witnesses said the stroller belonged to foreign twin infants.

One twin was inside the shop with the mother when the blast occurred, and the other outside in the stroller, said Mohammed Emad, 16, who sells spices at the market and whose hand was hurt by flying glass.

The boy said he went with the mother and twins to hospital, where one of the children died and the woman remained severely injured. "I pushed the stroller away out of the doorway" after the blast, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060425/...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

And in Sri Lanka.

Quote:

female suicide bomber disguised to look pregnant blew herself up in front of a car carrying Sri Lanka's highest-ranking general, killing eight people and badly injuring the top officer.

Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka suffered serious abdominal injuries, underwent surgery and was in stable condition after the brazen attack on the army's heavily fortified headquarters, military and medical officials said.

The army general's driver and escort and 27 people, including a number of civilians, were wounded, spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. It was not clear if any other top Sri Lankan military officials were hurt, or if the eight killed included the bomber.

Police blamed Tamil Tiger insurgents, who often have used women to carry out suicide attacks in their long fight for a separate homeland.

"A powerful blast activated by a woman Tamil Tiger suicide bomber claimed the lives of several army and civil personnel," the army said in a statement.

The bombing was certain to put further pressure on the country's 4-year-old cease-fire, which has been threatened by rising violence that has killed at least 83 people this month, including 43 soldiers or police.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060425/...lanka_violence

I watched a great documentary about the Tamil Tigers a few days ago and was chilled to the bone - they literally have an army composed of suicide bombers. The soldiers carry poison in containers around their neck that they take if it looks like they may be captured.

shobhna_guerin · 04-25-2006, 09:17 AM

I once read a book written by a journalist who was given permission to interview the Tamil Tigers, and yes it is scary how people willingly offer themselves into the group as suicide bombers.

On the news, they said that a few days ago Al-Qaeda had released a tape saying that some Western countries would soon be targeted. There's no chance of them being behind the Egypt blasts, or is there?

Ms Carolyn · 04-26-2006, 05:47 AM

I think that Al-Qaeda is behind the Egyptian attacks. At least that's what's suspected.

shobhna_guerin · 04-26-2006, 07:06 AM

Isn't it true that the LTTE is not claiming any responsiblity behind the attacks?

Ms Carolyn · 04-26-2006, 08:06 AM

Sorry, I have no idea. It's a very busy time at my office right now, and my reading time is very limited!


Fan Forum > General Discussion > News & Politics > Terror Attacks in Egypt and Sri Lanka