Tourists 'kidnapped' in Egypt
Two American women tourists have been snatched by gunmen in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, according to Egyptian officials.
Their small tour bus was attacked by masked men with machine guns while travelling with three other tourists from St Catherine's monastery on Mount Sinai to Sharm el-Sheikh.
The gunmen reportedly took money and valuables from the tourists before grabbing the tour guide and the two women, forcing them into a vehicle and driving into the mountains.
It is believed the women are being held ransom.
According to Egyptian state television, police teams and a military plane are searching for the Americans.
With permission from Travelmole
BBC News now reporting that the tourists have been freed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16869113
No really clear explanation from the authorities came out.
And now this - kidnapping from a tour bus!
It does look like Egypt and Sharm might be heading back into the tourism doldrums again they experienced last year, unless the authorities can quickly get their country sorted out.
Personally, I'm booked there for March, I wish I were not.
The area seems pretty volatile at the moment. There were 25 Chinese workers kidnapped as well at some point by bedouins, but they let them go after a few hours, no idea what that was all about. Reports said it was to gain release for those put in prison for the Taba Hilton Hotel bombing in 2004, seems very odd after all this time. Can't see the Egyptian government agreeing to that as 30 or so people died in those bombings.
This is the last thing Egypt needs as it is so dependant on tourism for money/jobs.
"The gunmen intercepted a tour bus traveling near the Saint Catherine monastery in central Sinai towards Sharm el-Sheikh. Twenty-seven other tourists were on the bus but were not taken. The youngest of the hostages was 51."
Also a few days ago there was a bomb threat in the Marriott hotel so now a few hotels have police guards.
"Security in the isolated desert region has deteriorated since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising last February, the anniversary of which will be marked on Saturday (today)"
Not the best place to be at the moment
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