Egyptian Security Forces Kill Hotel Attackers, Foil Kidnap of Guests

Gunfire erupted on Friday after two knife-wielding men, one wearing an explosive belt, stormed a resort hotel in Egypt with the intention of kidnapping western tourists.

A luxury hotel in the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada was the scene of a violent attack targeting Western tourists Friday. Security forces shot and killed one of the attackers and wounded a second after the attackers, armed with knives and at least one explosive device, stabbed and injured three European visitors. The injuries to two Austrians and one Swedish tourist have been described as “not serious.”

Earlier media reports that the two men opened fire on the hotel were dismissed by Egyptian authorities. An Interior Ministry source told CNN that the attackers were carrying “sound guns” which look and sound like weapons but do not fire bullets.

The Daily Mail, which quoted local media reports that at least two gunmen opened fire at the Bella Vista hotel in the Red Sea resort town, published several graphic photos said to be from the scene of the attack. One photo, said to have been taken in front of the hotel, clearly shows some sort of suicide belt and a black flag similar to those used by the terrorist group commonly known as ISIS.

Egyptian officials told the BBC that the armed men who stormed the hotel, which is frequented by Western tourists, were attempting to kidnap guests. Authorities say they are continuing to search for any possible accomplices.

[Photo: Stringer/EPA]