Now tourists to Egypt are warned over terror danger
BRITISH tourists in Egypt were yesterday warned to be vigilant over the risk of terror attacks.
Echoing warnings for Turkey and Dubai, the Foreign Office advised travellers to the country to be on guard.
There are fears that holidaymakers at resorts popular with Westerners could become an easy ‘soft’ target for terror groups sympathetic to Iran.
The Foreign Office changed its advice for 14 countries in the region, telling travellers to ‘remain vigilant’ and keep up to date on the latest developments. But it stopped short of telling people not to travel, meaning anyone who tries to cancel a trip over safety fears is unlikely to be refunded.
Stronger warnings were issued for Iraq, where the Foreign Office warned against all travel, except in the northern region of Kurdistan. It also strengthened its travel advice for Iran, warning against all but essential travel.
Thousands of Britons are enjoying winter sun holidays in North Africa and the Middle East. In its latest travel advice, the Foreign Office warned: ‘Following the death of
Iranian General Qassem Soleimani ... British nationals in the region should remain vigilant and keep up to date with the latest developments.’
The advice was issued for countries including the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Israel, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Anyone travelling to Turkey was warned to steer clear of areas near the borders with Iraq and Syria.
In Egypt, the Foreign Office warned that terrorist attacks could be ‘indiscriminate’ and that terror groups had targeted tourists in the past.
A Russian passenger plane from Sharm El Sheikh was bombed in 2015, killing all 224 people on board. Direct flights from Britain resumed only two months ago. A series of deadly bombings were carried out in Sharm, Dahab and Taba, all on the Sinai peninsula, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and in 1997 62 tourists were massacred in an attack at an archaeological site near Luxor on the Nile.
The Foreign Office had already warned holidaymakers to avoid the peninsula because of terror fears.
Tourists were warned against all but essential travel to South Sinai, apart from the resort town of Sharm and its airport. North Sinai is covered by a stronger warning against all travel. Other countries where holidaymakers and business travellers were warned they could be at risk included Oman, Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain and Qatar.
Britain was not involved in the US air strike that killed Soleimani, but is viewed as an ally of America and could be seen as a target by Iran.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the updated advice would be kept under constant review.
Dr Paul Stott, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said: ‘In the past Iran or the groups it sponsors have looked to target holidaymakers and community centres in areas of Africa, Latin America and southern Europe.
‘It may be here, in the months to come, where Tehran seeks its
‘Long seen the UK as its nemesis’
revenge. Iran has long seen the UK as a nemesis and these targets could well include British military bases in Cypr us and the Middle east, and holiday resorts frequented by Brits overseas.’
A spokesman for ABTA, which represents travel agents, said it was monitoring the situation.
In the US, the national football team announced it had cancelled plans to go to Qatar for a winter training camp because of the Iran crisis.