Two suspected Islamic State (IS) militants stormed the four-star Bella Vista hotel yesterday evening armed with knives with which they started to attack tourists.
A total of three of the hotel’s customers, two Austrians and a Swede, were wounded before police shot both attackers, killing one and wounding the other.
Security officials have since claimed that the men were also armed with a gun and an explosives belt. Reports also stated the two attackers unfurled an IS flag during the attack.
A hotline set up by the FCO in the wake of the attack has already been closed. However, advice for those in the resort on its site warned: “British nationals are advised to stay alert and follow the advice of the local authorities.”
Thomas Cook has released a statement which said it had no customers staying at the Bella Vista, while its in-resort team is helping customers staying in other parts of Hurghada.
The BBC has reported that security forces in Hurghada remain on high alert with all roads in and out closed.
The latest attack came as IS claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack when two masked gunmen opened fire on a tourist bus close to Cairo’s Giza pyramids.
Despite the two attacks, the FCO has not changed its overall advice for people wishing to visit the country.
A statement on its site over the weekend said: “Over 900,000 British nationals visit Egypt every year. Most visits are trouble-free.
“The areas to which the FCO advise against all but essential travel do not include the tourist areas along the Nile river (eg Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings) or the Red Sea Resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.”
However, it continues to warn against all but essential air travel to and from Sharm el Sheikh.
