Belgians flee resort after terror bombings

25 July 2005

BRUSSELS — Some 200 Belgian nationals have returned home early from Sharm el-Sheikh after the weekend’s bomb attacks.

The Belgian exodus from the Egyptian coastal came despite the fact police have arrested more than 70 suspects allegedly linked to the terrorist attacks.

The official death count is 64, but hospitals have said at least 88 people were killed in the bombings in the Red Sea resort. More than 200 people were injured

Both Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht condemned the bombings.

There were about 1,500 Belgians in the area at the time of the attacks, but no Belgian victims have been reported.

The Belgian Foreign Ministry has not changed its travel advice for the region, newspaper ‘De Standaard’ reported.

Nevertheless, the ministry has underlined the risks of travel to Egypt and urges travellers to remain alert.

Tour operators Thomas Cook Belgium en TUI (Jetair) reported few cancellations over the weekend, but it is too early to predict how Belgian tourists will respond to the attacks

The Saturday-morning bombings took place on the Egyptian national holiday; the height of the tourist holiday season. It is feared the attacks will deal a blow to the lucrative industry.

Two car bombs targeted the Ghazala Gardens hotel and the Old Market area. A third bomb, detonated in a parking area near the hotel, was placed in a suitcase.

Egyptian police are now searching for six Pakistani nationals in connection with the triple bombing. Photographs of the six men have been distributed.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people marched through the Naama Bay area in Sharm al-Sheikh on Sunday night in protest against the attacks.

Subject: Belgian news