Egypt bombs: No S Africans hurt
2005-07-24 22:10
Johannesburg - The foreign affairs department says no South Africans have been injured in Saturday's bomb blasts at Sharm el-Sheik in Egypt, despite the resort being popular with local scuba divers.
According to Ronnie Mamoepa, foreign affairs spokesperson, his department was also not aware of any missing South Africans, as Egyptian police were still battling to establish the identities of 88 people who died in the explosions. More than 200 had been injured.
President Thabo Mbeki expressed his shock at the Red Sea bomb attacks. He offered his condolences to Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, his people and the relatives of the deceased.
Deceased
A total of 34 victims have not been identified yet. The deceased are primarily Egyptians, but there are also seven foreigners from Britain, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic among the dead.
The attacks were executed in a co-ordinated fashion at a hotel, a car park and a coffee shop.
At least four attackers approached the town from the desert with at least 400kg explosives hidden amongst vegetables in their vehicle, Sapa-AP reported.
Two attackers left their vehicle loaded with explosives in the town's old market area, where it exploded. A smaller bomb in a plastic bag had been left in the car park while another attacker drove into the hotel with his vehicle.