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Militants Attack Karnak Temple in Egypt Militants Hit Karnak Temple, in 2nd Recent Attack on Egyptian Tourist Sites
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — Militants set off an explosion near the Karnak temple in Luxor on Wednesday, the second assault in about a week targeting ancient antiquities at Egyptian tourist sites, suggesting an ominous turn in a two-year-old campaign of violence against the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.CAIRO — Militants set off an explosion near the Karnak temple in Luxor on Wednesday, the second assault in about a week targeting ancient antiquities at Egyptian tourist sites, suggesting an ominous turn in a two-year-old campaign of violence against the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Attacks had previously focused mainly on the Egyptian security forces that supported Mr. Sisi in his ouster of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood almost two years ago. But the quick succession of recent attacks on antiquities suggests that militants may also now be targeting the tourism industry — a pillar of the Egyptian economy — in a possible reversion to the tactics of the Islamist insurgency that flared here in the 1990s.Attacks had previously focused mainly on the Egyptian security forces that supported Mr. Sisi in his ouster of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood almost two years ago. But the quick succession of recent attacks on antiquities suggests that militants may also now be targeting the tourism industry — a pillar of the Egyptian economy — in a possible reversion to the tactics of the Islamist insurgency that flared here in the 1990s.
Security officials said on Wednesday that the explosion in Luxor, about 400 miles south of Cairo, came from an attacker wearing a suicide vest. Officials said the police had exchanged gunfire with the attackers, killing two militants and wounding a third. A police officer was also injured, the officials said, but there was no damage to the temple or other antiquities. Later, Health Ministry officials said another person might have been injured. Security officials said on Wednesday that the explosion in Luxor, about 400 miles south of Cairo, came from an attacker wearing a suicide vest. Officials said the police had exchanged gunfire with the attackers, killing two militants and wounding a third. A police officer was also hurt, the officials said, but there was no damage to the temple or other antiquities. Later, Health Ministry officials said another person might have been injured.
The attack came just a week after gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed two tourist police officers near the gate of the complex that contains the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, across the Nile from Cairo. The attack came just a week after gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed two tourism police officers near the gate of the complex that contains the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, across the Nile from Cairo.
For the first 18 months after the takeover that brought Mr. Sisi to power, militant attacks almost exclusively targeted military and police personnel, leaving hundreds dead. The militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in the North Sinai, claimed responsibility for most of the violence and last fall it pledged its loyalty to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.For the first 18 months after the takeover that brought Mr. Sisi to power, militant attacks almost exclusively targeted military and police personnel, leaving hundreds dead. The militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in the North Sinai, claimed responsibility for most of the violence and last fall it pledged its loyalty to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
The shootings and small bombs then began to target businesses and critical infrastructure like electrical power stations in Cairo, Alexandria and elsewhere, causing some civilian casualties but mainly seeking to damage the economy. Shadowy new groups with names like Revolutionary Punishment and the Popular Resistance Movement began claiming responsibility for many of the attacks, but they tapered off in March after the militants failed to disrupt a high-profile economic development conference in Sharm el-Sheikh that Mr. Sisi had hosted. The shootings and small bombs then began to target businesses and critical infrastructure like electrical power stations in Cairo, Alexandria and elsewhere, causing some civilian casualties but mainly seeking to damage the economy.
The most recent attacks raise the possibility that at least some militants may now be turning to the tourism sector for an alternative strategy to impair any economic recovery and destabilize the government. Egypt depends on a steady flow of tourists as a major source of hard currency, and the past four years of unrest have taken a heavy toll on the economy, mainly because of their effects on the tourism industry. Just a few successful attacks or bombings can scare tourists away and cripple the industry. Shadowy new groups with names like Revolutionary Punishment and the Popular Resistance Movement began claiming responsibility for many of the attacks, but they tapered off in March after the militants failed to disrupt a high-profile economic development conference in Sharm el Sheikh that Mr. Sisi had hosted.
The Luxor attack on Wednesday is reminiscent of a mass shooting in 1997 at an archaeological site on the other side of the Nile, when attackers from a militant organization, the Islamic Group, shot and killed more than 60 people, most of them tourists. The most recent attacks raise the possibility that at least some militants may now be turning to the tourism sector for an alternative strategy to impair any economic recovery and destabilize the government.
Historians say that attack backfired badly against the militants, alienated the public and bolstered support for Hosni Mubarak, who was president at that time. But many here have worried quietly that at least a few members of the new generation of militants might be tempted to target the tourist industry as a soft spot in the Egyptian police state. Egypt depends on a steady flow of tourists as a major source of hard currency, and the past four years of unrest have taken a heavy toll on the economy, mainly because of their effects on the tourism industry. Just a few successful attacks or bombings can scare tourists away and cripple the industry.
The Luxor attack on Wednesday was reminiscent of a mass shooting in 1997 at an archaeological site on the other side of the Nile, when attackers from a militant organization, the Islamic Group, shot and killed more than 60 people, most of them tourists.
Historians say that attack backfired badly against the militants, alienated the public and bolstered support for Hosni Mubarak, who was president at that time. But many here have worried quietly that at least a few members of the new generation of militants might be tempted to target the tourism industry as a soft spot in the Egyptian police state.
On Tuesday night, militants in the North Sinai fired rockets toward an air base used by an international peacekeeping force created under a 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, Egyptian state news media reported. There were no reports of injuries.On Tuesday night, militants in the North Sinai fired rockets toward an air base used by an international peacekeeping force created under a 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, Egyptian state news media reported. There were no reports of injuries.
It was the first time militants targeted the peacekeepers, most of whom come from Western countries.It was the first time militants targeted the peacekeepers, most of whom come from Western countries.
Some analysts suggested that the militants might have refrained from hitting the peacekeepers because the operation in the North Sinai is popular among local residents as it provides jobs, suggesting that the rocket attack might also indicate a strategic shift.Some analysts suggested that the militants might have refrained from hitting the peacekeepers because the operation in the North Sinai is popular among local residents as it provides jobs, suggesting that the rocket attack might also indicate a strategic shift.
Social media accounts believed to represent the Sinai unit of the Islamic State — the group formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis — said it had claimed responsibility for the attack.Social media accounts believed to represent the Sinai unit of the Islamic State — the group formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis — said it had claimed responsibility for the attack.