Egyptian bomb outrage is linked with al-Qaida network
THE al-Qaida terror network was today linked to the bombing of an Egyptian beach resort which killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens more, including two Britons.
Police in Egypt said the blasts at the budget Dahab resort may be connected with the latest announcement by Osama bin Laden.
The al-Qaida leader called for attacks on Western targets in an audio tape released at the weekend.
Last night's attack is the third strike against tourist resorts along Egypt's Red Sea coast in the past two years. World leaders today condemned the bombings , which followed blasts in Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh.
Three devices exploded simultaneously at a market and restaurant area popular with western tourists. Security officials have said the bombs were probably triggered by timers rather than suicide bombers.
The 23 people killed include a young German boy and at least two other foreigners. One of those killed is reportedly a Russian tourist. A further 62 people were wounded in the blasts.
The two injured Britons were airlifted to Cairo with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Other Britons spoke of the chaos in the wake of the blasts.
Paul McBeath, who works in the resort, said there had been "no warning whatsoever".
"There were just three loud bangs and people rushing around. Everybody is shaken," he said
Joseph Nazir, who owns a safari company in Dahab, added: "Everybody is panicking, a lot of people are crying. We will be affected by this for a long, long time."
There were a number of foreigners among those wounded, including five Danes, two Italians, two Germans, two French people, a South Korean, an American and a Lebanese.
Witnesses said the blasts occurred close to each other in the centre of the resort at around 7.15pm, when the area was crowded, and a lot of people were eating or shopping.
Egyptian television footage showed body parts scattered on the streets, bloodstained pavement and destroyed shops littered with broken glass.
Many foreign holidaymakers were in the area along with Egyptians celebrating an ancient holiday marking the first day of spring.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the "callous" terrorists and said a team from the British Embassy in Cairo was en route to Dahab to offer assistance.
"I utterly condemn these appalling bombings in Dahab, which have been targeted at a popular holiday resort and on an Egyptian public holiday. Once again, terrorists have demonstrated their callous disregard for human life."
The European Union also condemned the "despicable" bombings.
In a statement issued in Vienna by Austria, the current holder of the rotating EU presidency, the 25-nation bloc said it "strongly condemns the despicable terrorist attacks in the Egyptian resort town of Dahab which caused death and injuries to numerous people" and offered condolences to families of the victims.
President Jacques Chirac of France condemned what he called an "odious terrorist act."
Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi expressed "deep indignation" and solidarity.