Islamic State militants attack, 3 foreign tourists in Egyptian resort

The victims, identified as Renata and Wilhelm Weisslein, both 72, and Sammie Olovsson, 27, are all in stable condition.

When the attack took place on Friday, Sammie and his father Jan-Eric Olovsson, 64, from Boxholm, were in the restaurant at the Bella Vista hotel in Hurghada.

Some extremists in the restive Sinai peninsula have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group.

Security forces shot the attackers, killing one and wounding another.

Police opened fire killing the attacker, who security sources told Reuters was wearing a suicide belt. Officials said policemen shut off roads and had tightened checks around the region.

The Interior Ministry had said that one of the attackers was a student from Giza. “When I got up later on they were not here”, he said.

“Most probably is to make propaganda that will affect the tourism in Egypt badly, and that was the main aim”.

The resorts, which Egypt promoted as jewels of its tourism industry, had previously attracted millions of holidaymakers, including Russians, Britons and Italians, and are famed for their pristine beaches and scuba diving.

On Saturday morning the Islamic State propaganda network Amaq News claimed responsibility for a separate assault Thursday against a bus of Israeli tourists near the pyramids at Giza. “No stone will be left unturned to ensure their security”, Zaazou said. “We sat there and ate and then they showed up”, he said. The apparent bombing of a Russian passenger plane over Sinai a year ago, claimed by IS, led to widespread flight cancellations, dealing a major blow to the industry which is one of the country’s main earners.

The attackers, apparantely part of a group of around 15 Brotherhood supporters, used birdshot and targeted the tourists while they entered the hotel on Al-Haram Street, the official said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

“Bookings started to pick up again a couple of years after the Arab Spring”.

“Well done Egypt, promptly ended yesterday’s attack”, tweeted the Minister. He said Israel had been briefed on the incident by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Coastline at sunset, Hurgada, Red Sea, Egypt.

“They have advised against travel through the airport at Sharm el-Sheikh but they haven’t advised against travel to the resort itself”.

“I think he tries to hit my chest and hit my heart”.