CAIRO: The European Union, U.S. and U.K. condemned a Wednesday suicide bombing near Karnak temple of Luxor Wednesday, expressing their support to Egypt against “terrorism.”
A suicide bomber blew himself up Wednesday morning outside Karnak temple; the bomber was killed and four were injured. Three explosive devices were also neutralized.
The EU said in a statement Wednesday that the attack “aims at undermining Egypt’s stability and economic development. We must stand united in our common fight against terrorism.”
The U.S. embassy in Cairo also commended the police officers and citizens who managed to foil the attack.
“We extend our sympathies to those who sustained injuries. We also condemn the attack on the Multinational Force and Observers mission (MFO) base in North Sinai. The United States continues to stand with the Egyptian government and people in the ongoing fight against terrorism.”
A soldier in Egypt’s Rafah was shot dead Wednesday amid several explosions in the area; Arish-Rafah and Sheikh Zuwayed-Goura roads were partially closed, Youm7 reported.
U.K. Minister for North Africa Tobias Ellwood said in a statement “My thoughts are with those injured in this terrible attack. The UK continues to stand with the Egyptian government and people in their fight against terrorist violence.”
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack; the Egyptian authorities opened an immediate investigation and seized all cameras around the temples.
A group of tourists visit Egyptian antiquities
Muslim Brotherhood accuses government of “failure,” Sisi commends security
The Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), condemned the attack, blaming the government for “failure.”
“In fact, a speedy spiraling collapse is impacting all aspects of life in Egypt, with morality sacrificed, the economy destroyed, tourism failing, and Egyptians’ blood becoming cheaper than ever at home and abroad,” the FJP said in a statement published on Ikhwan Web Wednesday. The former government was labeled by the government “terrorist group” in December 2013; MB members and supporters are being tried over “terrorist acts.”
One of Egyptian security forces stand and observe Egyptian antiquities places
The attacks coincided with the Sharm el-Sheikh-based Tripartite Economic Summit between Africa’s economic blocs of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC,); the three blocs signed the African Free Trade Zone (AFTZ).
President Abdel Fatah El Sisi met with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and Minister of Interior Magdy Abdel Ghaffar following the attack, said the Presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef in a statement.
“The President commended the performance of the security forces for their expert response to the attack that prevented civilian casualties of any kind, be they Egyptians or foreign tourists. President Sisi ordered security be intensified in vital areas, including historic sites, so that criminal acts of this kind by terrorist and extremist groups are averted,” the statement read.
A few hours following the attack, President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim visited Karnak temple, calling tourists worldwide to visit Luxor as “Egypt is a country of safety.”