tisdag, april 02, 2013

Beväpnade islamister demonstrerar i Sinai

Beväpnade islamistiska gäng med tunga automat-
vapen och pansarfordon demonstrerade i helgen
gränsen till Gaza.
Området är demilitariserat enligt fredsavtalet
mellan Israel och Egypten.
Lokalbefolkningen uppges vara var skräckslagna
över vapenskramlet.
Den egyptiska polisen lyste med sin frånvaro.
Området tillhör provinsen Norra Sinai, där
säkerhetsstyrkorna det senaste året haft
allt sämre kontroll. I området har inträffat
ett stort antal terrordåd och kidnappningar.
**
Insecurity has grown in Sinai since Hosni Mubarak
was toppled in Egypt’s 2011 revolution. In August
last year, gunmen suspected of being Islamist
militants killed at least 15 Egyptian border guards
in an assault on a police station at the border
between Egypt and Israel.
***
Brittiska UD:s resevarning för Egypten
lyder just nu:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
advise against all travel to the Governorate of
North Sinai due to the significant increase in
criminal activity. See North Sinai.
**
The FCO advise against all but essential travel
to the Governorate of South Sinai, with the
exception of (i) the Red Sea Resorts including
those in the entire region of Sharm el Sheikh,
Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab; (ii) daytime road travel
between these resorts; and iii) transfers between
the resorts and the airports of Taba and
Sharm el Sheikh. See South Sinai and Road travel.
**
There is a high threat from terrorism.
Although security is tight throughout
the country, especially in resort areas, there
remains a high risk of attacks which could be
indiscriminate, including in public places
frequented by foreigners. Following French
military intervention in Mali, there is a
threat of retaliatory attacks targeting
Western interests in the region. See Terrorism.
**
Egyptian Armed Forces and Ministry of
Interior declared a state of ‘High Alert’ in
Sinai  on Saturday 9 March 2013 following
reports that Jihadist groups might conduct
terrorist attacks against the army and security
forces in North and South Sinai.