Egypt blast: Your experiences

Dozens of people were killed or injured as explosions rocked the Egyptian resort town of Dahab.

The blasts occurred in a bustling area popular with tourists during the early evening.

Witnesses report seeing 20 ambulances and police cars at the scene.

It is the third such attack on the Sinai peninsula in the last year and a half.

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Spoke to family in Dahab who said that emergency services are limited - 20 ambulances unlikely. Divers assisting as many are first aiders. All areas hit are on the beach front. No areas have been cordoned off and damage is quite contained.
Emma, Rye, UK

Here comes another terrorist act that rocks the peace and security in the Middle East, adding more tension to the already troubled area. I think we need more than just security measures and public statements condemning terrorism. Whoever is responsible for these acts will continue doing so until the problem is solved. I am concerned about the future of the Middle East and the world in light of the deteriorating situation. We need to talk less and act more.
Yara, Cairo, Egypt

I just want to say that those who made the explosions are criminals. They bother the people in the beautiful town on a spring day. And of course I've been affected by the explosions -it's my beautiful country Mother Egypt and Sinai is one of her daughters, like me, so it's like my sister.
Nouran, Cairo, Egypt

All Egyptians condemn this deadly attack in Dahab tonight. But Egypt is still great and stands, with God's help, in front of all these criminals.
Ihab, Egypt

My condolence to the families affected. I am very angry with the Egyptian Police and Security. They should make more efforts to control these groups.
Tarik, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

I think every time Egypt is just recovering from an accident it gets a new one. If we look at the timings we should notice that it is politics that moves these creatures to cause damage.
Sherif Ibrahim, Alexandria, Egypt

What kind of person can do something like that and live with it on his conscience? I've been to Dahab countless times before and I've stepped into the soil of each and every part that has been bombed today. Yes, innocent workers who I have probably seen before are probably dead now. Not to mention tens of innocent tourists who are guests in my country. This attack should not go unpunished, it affects us all. Our apathetic government should wake up. Guests in our country are being killed. This isn't some isolated incident, that's the third attack in 5 years in the Sinai Peninsula alone. My prayers go to the families of those who were directly affected. The next time I visit Dahab, I'll make sure I visit their memorials, just like I did with the two other attacks in Sinai. Sharm el Sheikh is practically my second home.
Ahmed Hammam Mahmoud, Cairo, Egypt

I am sad to hear that again some people think its ok to kill other humans. I am half-Egyptian and I send all my regrets to the families and may God protect us all.
Jasmin, Luxor, Egypt

I am in Dahab right now and can confirm the situation in the hotels' area is normal. People feel safe in here. Your information that the area (Masbat) of the town where explosion was is frequented by tourists area is not exactly correct as at 19:15 almost all tourists were in their hotels, 3-5 km from Masbat, having their dinner.
Anon, Dahab, Egypt

I remember visiting Dahab after my freshman year of college (1993). At that time, Dahab was a melting pot of young people looking to have a good time. I remember interacting with Israeli soldiers on vacation. They Egyptian people were very nice. I had taken a trip to a very Islamic village in the middle of the desert. I can't imagine doing that now.
Adam Hochman

I, like many business men in Egypt, have been hit by this act, either directly or not. But what shocks me most is when, across the world, media starts categorizing Egyptians, Israelis, Foreigners, Christians, Moslems, etc. I strongly believe that this world wide phenomenon of terrorism and unjustified wasting of human lives will cease to exist if such prejudice is tackled with priority and respect to individualities
Emad Mohamed ElGendi, Cairo, Egypt

Once again, people with too much religious zeal but not enough religious education bring death and destruction. If they understood the Koran properly they would know that their actions fall outside of the conduct that is permitted in war. It's the job of other Muslims to spread the correct message of the religion to the youth, instead of the mistaken interpretations spread by a minority. The only way we will finally end this situation is to follow the true path of our religion, which means respecting the liberties of the people, recognizing shura (popular consultation and participation in the political process) as an absolute necessity, and ending the corruption and abuse of the Government.
Musa Abd-el-Hady, Port Said, Egypt

As a foreigner living in Egypt one cannot help but notice the general disapproval the Egyptian public have towards such grotesque acts of mass murder. This isn't the first such act, and does not appear to be the last. What most of us here are asking is why these acts keep occurring, in full knowledge of the dependency the Egyptian economy has on the injection foreigners contribute through tourism. Nobody here wants to see a return to the economic hardship of the early 1990s.
Salim Kombo, Cairo, Egypt

Well as a tour guide, yes, I'll be affected by such irresponsible acts. Now they are attacking again, not seeing that we are the ones who are getting attacked, not any others. If there were Egyptians who did it, I am really sorry to say that they were stupid because they are destroying us, we all live in the same country. Maybe they can understand that they are killing us, not any others, and Egypt will always be Egypt, the land of tolerance and tourism, not stupidity.
Ayman Fathie Ahmed, Cairo, Egypt

I, with my family, have been to Dahab three times. It is our favourite place in the world. The place is so serene, so beautiful, so relaxed. The people there are the kindest and most welcoming that we have ever met. We have many friends there. For a thing like this to happen in Dahab is dreadful beyond words. I cannot understand how anyone, anyone, could attempt to destroy so beautiful a place, and such beautiful people. We'll be back.
Sam Korn, Monmouth, UK

I think after these explosions, after these destructive terrorist actions, Egypt should ask for American help against terrorism!
Maged Mamdouh, Cairo

Being an ex British military man for 18 years, this sort of thing is not exactly unknown to myself. Also the sad state of the world in this day and age helps none. I have happily spent six years of my life in Dahab, South Sianai, working alongside Egyptians, Bedouins, and just about every nationality imaginable. I only left Dahab and the Sinai in December last year, 2005, for a new location, and left so many excellent friends and professional colleagues still working there. Being as I read that at least 22 were killed, I fear the worst for my friends, of all nationalities. About the only good point I believe is that the terrorists chose the wrong time. At 1915 local, there was probably not that many people in the restaurants and bars as they would only just have started to fill. With the diving centre, they were also probably on the wind down from the day's work. Later in the evening would have been horrendous.
Mick, Baja California Sur, Mexico

I think that we in Egypt began to lose the principle, we believed in the perfectionism of Egyptian security for many years. I think that we need to improve our security whether administratively or technically.
Mohamad Mostafa, Alexandria, Egypt

I have just returned to the UK having been living in Dahab for the last year and a half. I have many friends in Dahab, all of which are thankfully ok. Incidentally Dahab only has a few ambulances and very poor emergency services, so if there are 20 ambulances on site they must be from all over Egypt. I am keeping in contact with my friends and just hope that they are indeed all ok.
Caroline Doe, England, Lincolnshire

Shock! Disgust! That's all I feel. Heard about the news 15 minutes after it happening and am totally disappointed on how the Egyptian media and government are dealing with it (again!), as if it's just a minor incident, don't talk about it too much and the people will forget. We won't forget. We never do.
Missiri, Cairo, Egypt

My uncle works in Egypt and he was saying that a few years back, the majority of the countries were living in peace and since this so-called war on terror took place we have seen many innocents lives destroyed. Who is to be blamed? All of us, because not everyone is doing their bit and another problem is the Wahabbi or Salafi movement around the world. These misguided Muslims are destroying Islam in the name of Islam.
Abid Khan, Manchester

We returned to our home in Cairo from a wonderful few days in Dahab. What a shameful waste of life regardless of nationality or religious belief. It just proves again that people who are determined to disrupt the lives of others will succeed regardless of police and security checkpoints of which there are many. My heart goes out to the innocent people, both Egyptian and foreign, whose lives have been devastated by these mindless acts.
Sharon, Cairo, Egypt

Having worked in the diving industry for four years in Sharm-El-Sheikh, including at the time of the Luxor massacre, I can only say that those who carried out this atrocity are utterly beneath contempt for both the act and their intended effect on the tourist industry in Egypt. I for one will be voting very firmly with my feet and going ahead with my two week holiday there this summer.
Ian, Winsford, Cheshire

I have been windsurfing to Dahab many times, it is a very quiet and out-of-the-way little town - I am really shocked by this as it is the last place I would have considered to be a terrorist risk. Obviously, my thoughts are with those directly affected.
Matt, UK

Another tragic incident. How many more till the world wakes up to the threat that is out there? I send my deepest regrets to the families that have been affected directly.
Mewael Asmelash, London

I was in Dahab six weeks ago and made a video interview with hotel managers Jimmy and Imad. I asked about their thoughts on how to run a hotel with all its services. Very nice people. I'm concerned. Especially since I was there, a Swede, when the Danish pictures were hot stuff in the media. It was so obvious that all I met were sad about this and would make an issue out of it. Yes, I am affected by the explosions in Dahab.
Lennart Mogren, Stockholm, Sweden

We were there only a couple of weeks ago. It is a very basic town, good for snorkelling and diving, but not a big plush resort like Sharm. Lots of independent travellers are there; it's not really a tour operator destination.
English Rosie, Wilts, England

Having just got back from Luxor and Cairo, I am quite shocked and disturbed by these blasts. I am also surprised that these attacks were able to take place considering the huge amount of security at every monument and every place of importance imaginable.
Alex Burdett, London, England

I am Egyptian-born, living in NYC. I am sick and tired of these maniacs running around blowing up everything that is beautiful and precious to all Egyptians. I say forget about human rights: these people are not human! They should be all thrown in jail and left there for life. They have no right to ask for freedom and democracy, since they can't even respect the value of human life and religious freedom.
C H, NYC, USA

Dahab was a place I spent a good deal of time in early 1992 after coming from Eliat in the south of Israel. At that time there was unprecedented snow in the Sinai and Petra so folks (from the UK, NZ, AUS, Germany, Denmark, US, Israel, etc.) swapped travel tails as we hunkered down to enjoy Bedouin hospitality (many Bedouins spoke Hebrew and had no animosity toward Israelis or Jews of any nation). But Dahab became a target precisely because it is a place where Westerners and Israelis go - where people share ideas and many Egyptians I met wished to go to Israel. To that end I hope that Ibrahim (and his family), Sammi and the staff at the Sinai Rose are well-and that help gets to all the victims quickly!
Amy James, Farmington CT USA

I just had a call from my father, who works in Egypt and is in Dahab at the moment. He is in the office of his camp and he said he is all right, but it's a mess, mobiles aren't working and everything is closed by the police.
Jan Schneider, Prague, Czech Republic

I think any problem comes to Egypt and our Interior Minister says don't worry its only game of some crazy persons.
M. Ali, Riyadh

An absolutely despicable act and my prayers are with the Egyptian people and all the victims of this attack. Egypt will remain the jewel of the region and I sincerely hope the culprits are caught and justice is served. Tourism is a pillar of the country's economy and this incident could have serious consequences. I for one will still be going ahead with my family trip to Taba Heights in June.
Robert, Middlesbrough, England

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