Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO2453
2006-04-26 15:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
NORTH SINAI TERRORIST ATTACKS HIT MFO AND EGYPTIAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0019 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #2453 1161543 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261543Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7660 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002453
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR S-SO, S/CMS, S/CT, DS, NEA/ELA
NSC STAFF FOR SINGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL EG KMFO
SUBJECT: NORTH SINAI TERRORIST ATTACKS HIT MFO AND EGYPTIAN
POLICE; KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN IN DAHAB INCIDENT
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones fr reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002453
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR S-SO, S/CMS, S/CT, DS, NEA/ELA
NSC STAFF FOR SINGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL EG KMFO
SUBJECT: NORTH SINAI TERRORIST ATTACKS HIT MFO AND EGYPTIAN
POLICE; KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN IN DAHAB INCIDENT
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones fr reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Two suicideattacks occurred at approximately 11:10
and 11:3 (local) April 26 in the vicinity of MFO's North
Camp in the North eastern Sinai. In the first attack, a
suicide bomber allegedly wearing a belt bomb threw himself on
the hood of an unarmored MFO Chevy Blazer, shattering the
windshield. The vehicle's four occupants (two Egyptians, one
Norwegian, and one New Zealander) sustained minor injuries
from the glass. In a second attack, occurring several
kilometers from the site of the first attack, a man wearing a
belt bomb, riding a bicycle or a moped, blew himself up next
to a police vehicle. Reports indicate the police official in
that vehicle was not injured. According to press and GOE
reports, both suicide bombers died.
2. (SBU) According to MFO officials, the GOE has offered to
place additional security around the perimeter of the Camp.
MFO has also called all vehicles that were outside the North
Camp back to camp.
3. (SBU) The April 26 attacks follow the August 15 IED
incident and come on the heels of the Dahab bombings.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the recent
attacks, ongoing investigations may clarify the attackers
identities and motivations.
4. (C) Separately, key questions remain about the nature of
the April 24 bombings in Dahab. In particular, the GOE has
apparently not yet determined whether the explosives were
delivered by suicide bombers or pre-placed and remotely
detonated. The GOE had originally maintained that the bombs
were remotely detonated, but the discovery by divers of body
parts in the Red Sea has reopened speculation that suicide
bombers could have been involved. Most commentary in the
Egyptian press has been defiant in tone and derisive toward
the bombers. The popular pro-government weekly Al Musawwar
ran with a hastily prepared new cover bearing a grisly
picture of a bombing vicim and the question: Who did it?
Was it the Mosad? Or Al Qaida? Or a new organization?
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR S-SO, S/CMS, S/CT, DS, NEA/ELA
NSC STAFF FOR SINGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL EG KMFO
SUBJECT: NORTH SINAI TERRORIST ATTACKS HIT MFO AND EGYPTIAN
POLICE; KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN IN DAHAB INCIDENT
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones fr reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Two suicideattacks occurred at approximately 11:10
and 11:3 (local) April 26 in the vicinity of MFO's North
Camp in the North eastern Sinai. In the first attack, a
suicide bomber allegedly wearing a belt bomb threw himself on
the hood of an unarmored MFO Chevy Blazer, shattering the
windshield. The vehicle's four occupants (two Egyptians, one
Norwegian, and one New Zealander) sustained minor injuries
from the glass. In a second attack, occurring several
kilometers from the site of the first attack, a man wearing a
belt bomb, riding a bicycle or a moped, blew himself up next
to a police vehicle. Reports indicate the police official in
that vehicle was not injured. According to press and GOE
reports, both suicide bombers died.
2. (SBU) According to MFO officials, the GOE has offered to
place additional security around the perimeter of the Camp.
MFO has also called all vehicles that were outside the North
Camp back to camp.
3. (SBU) The April 26 attacks follow the August 15 IED
incident and come on the heels of the Dahab bombings.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the recent
attacks, ongoing investigations may clarify the attackers
identities and motivations.
4. (C) Separately, key questions remain about the nature of
the April 24 bombings in Dahab. In particular, the GOE has
apparently not yet determined whether the explosives were
delivered by suicide bombers or pre-placed and remotely
detonated. The GOE had originally maintained that the bombs
were remotely detonated, but the discovery by divers of body
parts in the Red Sea has reopened speculation that suicide
bombers could have been involved. Most commentary in the
Egyptian press has been defiant in tone and derisive toward
the bombers. The popular pro-government weekly Al Musawwar
ran with a hastily prepared new cover bearing a grisly
picture of a bombing vicim and the question: Who did it?
Was it the Mosad? Or Al Qaida? Or a new organization?
RICCIARDONE