UAE nationals caught in Egypt blasts continue holidays

Three UAE nationals, who received minor injuries in the Sharm Al Shaikh blasts on Saturday, have flown on to Cairo, where they will continue their holiday, diplomats at the UAE embassy in Egypt said yesterday.

The diplomats told Gulf News yesterday the UAE would not announce any warnings for travellers to Egypt. They declined to identify the names of the injured or where they were from.

When contacted, sources at Sharm Al Shaikh hospitals were unable to name the men because they were not registered, as they were treated at the scene.

The diplomats confirmed no national was killed in the blasts. Saeed Al Sirri, the UAE Consul in Egypt, said eight nationals were in the resort when the blasts occurred.

Al Sirri and other UAE diplomats were in Sharm Al Shaikh yesterday to check if any other nationals were injured.

He said the three men, in their late twenties, were staying opposite the Al Ghazala Gardens Hotel, which bore the brunt of the attacks that left at least 90 people dead.

"The men called the embassy soon after the attack. They were treated at the scene for their injuries."

Khalid Al Mualla, Charge D' Affaires at the UAE embassy in Egypt, said: "They were on their own and it was their first visit to Egypt. They are fine and they just wanted to continue their package holiday in Cairo."

The diplomats said they knew of at least five other UAE nationals, four men and one woman, who were staying at Sharm Al Shaikh at the time and who escaped unhurt.

One couple, they said, decided to remain in the resort for the rest of their planned holiday.

They encouraged nationals concerned about family in Egypt to contact the embassy on +20276-09722. There were at least three bomb blasts on Saturday at the popular Egyptian resort.

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UAE residents condemn attacks

Mohammad Abdullah Al Falasi, a UAE national civil engineer: "The Sharm Al Shaikh blasts were outrageous. Egypt as a country is going through tough times, just like the US during 9/11 and London during the last attacks. I think the economy, especially the tourism sector, will be highly affected by these blasts."

Mukhtar Al Shemali, a UAE national government employee: "Everybody is condemning these attacks and I strongly add my voice to them. Innocent people were victims of these attacks and no human brain can accept these deadly attacks.

"I think Jews are behind these attacks because they always try to destroy the image of Muslims by making them look like terrorists in front of the world.

"I do not think Muslims can carry out such attacks because they know that killing innocent people is prohibited in Islam.

"I believe there is a relationship between these blasts and London blasts because they all try to impose the idea that Muslims are terrorists and they stand behind all the attacks."

Ali Fahmi Al Samarai, 39, a British citizen of Iraqi origin who works in the television industry, said despite the recent outrages in London and Sharm Al Shaikh, there was an end in sight to the threat of terrorism.

"What has happened in Egypt is so sad. It does seem as if it is linked to Al Qaida. It certainly seems to be the same fanatic mentality."