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Africa North
Israelis killed in Egypt hotel blast, at least 23 dead
2004-10-07
Breaking news. Possible multiple blasts elsewhere in Egypt. Hallmarks of a classic AlQ murder spree.
A strong explosion damaged the Hilton hotel in Egypt's Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border, on Thursday night, witnesses said. Israeli medics said they had been informed of "a large number of casualties." "The whole front of the hotel has collapsed," witness Yigal Vakni told Israel's Army Radio. "There are dozens of people on the floor, lots of blood, it is very tense. I am standing outside of the hotel, the whole thing is burning and they have nothing to put it out with," he added. "There is nothing here." The blast could be heard strongly a mile from the hotel, said Selma Abu el-Dahab, who works at another Taba hotel. She said a worker from her hotel returned from the Hilton and told of the explosion before collapsing.

Taba is the main crossing between Israel and Egypt and the gateway for thousands of Israelis who travel to the hotels and resorts on the Red Sea. Thursday is the last day of the weeklong Jewish festival of Sukkot (search), when thousands of Israelis vacation in the Sinai. Vakni said most of the people at the Hilton were Israeli. "I was in the casino when it happened," he said. "There was a massive explosion and the left wall came down. People started to run around like crazy."

On Sept. 9, the Israeli government urged citizens not to visit Egypt, citing a "concrete" terror threat to tourists in an area. The warning, issued by the counter-terrorism center in the Prime Minister's office, identified Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where Taba is located, as the target of a potential attack. "Recently a concrete possibility has emerged that terrorists will try to attack tourist centers in Egypt, especially the Sinai," the Israeli Foreign Ministry (search) said in a statement published on its Web site.
Posted by:Bulldog

#11  This yet another case of the jihad cowards commiting mass murder. Our gloves better come off real soon regarding those national states behind these slaughters, supports and 'comrades'. Iran, Syria, North Korea, Hizballah's Lebanon, Cuba, the Sudan, and the backstabing Saudis for footing the bills for the majority of 'Islamic (terrorist training) Centers throughout the globe.
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-10-07 11:16:03 PM  

#10  Just heard on CNN that the Palestinians have condemned the attack. It's laughable. The reason that they are condemning it, of course, is not because Israelis have died in this barbaric fashion but because they don't want the Egyptians to think Palestinians had anything to do with it.

I imagine also that they have quickly stopped any street celebrations in the same way that they stopped them after 9/11.
Posted by: Bryan   2004-10-07 9:18:49 PM  

#9  read debka on this:
debka site



Egypt closes Suez Canal and declares all Sinai Peninsula closed military zone. Cairo reports 43 casualties in blast at Red Sea Sinai resort of Nuweiba. Israeli sources say at least 7 killed. Another 2 Israelis reported killed, 10 injured by a car bomb at Ras al-Satan. No information on third Sinai coast explosion. Israeli aid workers denied access. Another unexploded bomb car is believed at large in Sinai, possibly seeking target.


Death toll from first blast at Taba Hotel approaches 40, with estimated 150 injured, according to Cairo daily Al Ahram. Some Israeli casualties moved to Egyptian hospitals. DEBKAfile reports increasing indications of al Qaeda’s hand behind multiple attacks on Israeli civilians in Egyptian Sinai


Scores injured and buried in rubble of still burning Taba hotel near Egyptian-Israeli border ravaged by suspected truck bomb while crowded with Israeli holiday-makers. Ten-story western wing collapsed and eastern wing consumed in flames.


Sharon called Mubarak and asked to ease passage of rescue teams through border terminal. After Egyptian obstructions, Israeli medical teams reached hotel to tend injured. Magen David on multi-casualty emergency flew in blood transfusions. Three hospitals in central Israel prepared for massive intake of wounded ferried in by air force helicopters. Tel Hashomer and Sorocca flew emergency surgical teams to Eilat's Josephthal hospital.


Israel’s Homeland Command in charge of crisis sends rescue teams to hunt for victims buried in rubble. Open telephone line between Israeli defense minister Mofaz and Egyptian minister Omar Suleiman.


Posted by: 3dc   2004-10-07 8:49:36 PM  

#8   Ship ....Last Oct-Nov I saw this coming and went WAY, way out 10 -14 months out and just sat on them which is tough, brokers had a good laugh, they are not now! If you believe you are correct simply ignore them but always remind them after the fact. Usually if the broker is human he will admit he goofed up and the same applies to me. I did not factor in hurricanes but organized Islamic terrorism dramatically rising threatening oil reserves plus the fact Iran would have to be dealt with (Opec's #2 exporter).

Do the math, each penny earned (Put or Call) (or futures) in crude oil or natural gas is worth $10, thus from an average of $29.50 a year ago, to today's, let's round it off to $52.50 as barrel, the rise in NYMEX crude rocketed up (in one year) $23 a barrel,,,but that is really 23,000 cents times $10 = 23K on a straight futures contract. If one has earned that, granted had to wait many months is this the time to peel of some of those and go even longer into the mid-winter and mid-summer months of 2005,,,yes it is! Winter is not here ...yet.

Everything traded in energy is going crazy. If the Northeast winter which is only less than a month and a half away prior to heavy heating oil & natural gas usage is even a bit colder then the so-called average the consumer/homeowner will pay more this winter then any perviously. Contracts are $$$$ if there is a reasonable expectation of hitting the strike price or coming close on momentum.

Also copper, the unseen winner to the average member of the public, the metal has more than doubled and will continue due to the construction boom ongoing in Red China. Will that boom continue? It will, unless there is a meltdown on Wall Street triggered by an unthinkable jihadic attack. In my opinion copper in the next six months has room to climb another 40%, again if China's housing binge is not disrupted. You know sometimes more profits are earned on the put side of any market if one has the insight to foresee the reversal ahead of the mob. The same applies to oil. Nothing goes up forever and when she crashed back it will be a long ride down, but we are not there as I write this.

Having properly placed puts on the major stock indexes should be seriously considered in light of the current unstable outlook in stocks.

Any thoughts on this?
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-10-07 7:22:44 PM  

#7  I'm sure it was just a handful of extremists.

Failure to *destroy* the enemies of civilization will result in the end of civilization.
Posted by: Crusader   2004-10-07 7:15:33 PM  

#6  If Hamas did this, (Israel can easily prove it or not) there cannot be any more holding back in the complete destruction of Hamas in Gaza. If Paleo children get killed, I don't give a crap. Destroy Hamas NOW!!!
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2004-10-07 7:02:27 PM  

#5  So Mark.... how long are you on oil? :)
Posted by: Shipman   2004-10-07 6:26:02 PM  

#4  These jihad animals I feel are launching multi-nation attacks in order to effect the U.S. election. Jews and Americans being their top targets.

Resorts must be on the look out. The Iran in fact may very well be organizing a massive terror slaughter which could be blamed on Osama ( they are all the same) but the purpose is to remove some of the attention and future actions against the nuclear-terrorist Iranian regimé.

For the mullahs, hated by the majority of Iranians within Iran they are well aware soon their time will expire, in a joint domestic supported and outside guided overthrow of the Tehran dictatorship.

The wild card in all of this is will the death cultist mullahs if pushed attack the largest oil field in the world, across the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. If they take this action it will ruin the Western economy through panic driving market mania. In 9-11 the World (Trade) center was attacked in the hope to cripple the American and interlinked world-wide economic system, it failed! Iran's cold blooded oil barons know they can forget war crimes trials for the horrors they have committed since Jan of 1979, it will be swift justice from the common man in the street.

In the 1979 with the Carter organized coup of the Shah the resulting financial fallout in the oil and gold/silver markets turned to madness with rocketing prices. The stakes are even higher now and the mullahs know it.
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-10-07 6:14:45 PM  

#3  Hamas took responsibility on their web site.

Do you pay tax? Your money was used for this, channeled through the UN.
Posted by: Bulldog   2004-10-07 5:46:57 PM  

#2  Deathtoll is now 27, plus report of an another explosion in another resort : synchronized attacks à la AQ?
Posted by: Anonymous5089   2004-10-07 5:40:30 PM  

#1  Massive bomb attack collapses Taba Hilton: at least 23 dead
By israelinsider staff October 7, 2004

A massive explosion rocked the Taba Hilton in Sinai on the Israeli border. There are reports that the lobby has collapsed and a fire has broken out. There are conflicting reports as to whether the blast was caused by suicide bombers or a car bomb. Hamas took responsibility on their web site. For nearly an hour ambulances were waiting at the border, waiting for Egyptian permission to enter.

Now Israeli ambulances have been allowed in, and Israeli helicopters are reportedly enroute to evacuate the wounded.

News agencies report at least 23 dead, but the death toll is expected to rise.

Dozens of Israelis suffering light-to-moderate wounds have already crossed from Egypt into Israel and are receiving medical treatment from Magen David Adom personnel.

16 are being treated at Yosef Tal hospital in Eilat.

"I heard a huge explosion. The wall near me collapsed and people began to run. There were many casualties... The
explosion was outside. When we went out we saw the shops and the internal wall of the hotel had collapsed," the witness, called Yigal, told Army Radio.

"Some people it was a gas canister explosion and others said it was a terrorist attack. There are a lot of people [lying on the ground]. There is a lot of blood, a lot of screaming," he added.

"The whole front of the hotel has collapsed," he said. "I am standing outside of the hotel, the whole thing is burning and they have nothing to put it out with. There is nothing here."

There are reportedly celebrations in Gaza and in Cairo
Posted by: dennisw   2004-10-07 5:37:10 PM  

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