2009 Khan el-Khalili bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Khan el-Khalili bombing was a bomb explosion
that took place at 6:30 p.m. local time on 22 February 2009 in Khan el-Khalili
, a souq in eastern Cairo
, Egypt
, killing a 17 year old French teenager and injuring 24 other people. It was the first of the February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacks
.
match. There were conflicting reports that the bomb was thrown from a balcony or from a motorcycle
, but security officials reported that the bomb had exploded under a bench in a garden in the square. A second bomb failed to detonate and was defused
. The bombs weighed 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb) and contained nails and metal fragments. A 17-year-old French
girl, who was among a group of 54 teenagers from Levallois-Perret
near Paris
, was killed. 17 French
, one German
and three Saudi
tourists, as well as three Egyptians
, were wounded.
Early reports suggest the explosive devices were "primitive
".
and Prime Minister François Fillon
condemned the attacks.
The attack has raised fear of the return of the Islamic militants groups to target Egypt's tourism industry. The attacks have also been speculated to be linked to anger over Egypt's role in the Gaza conflict
. The bombing has caused concern for Cairo authorities, who saw the tourist industry devastated by bombings and shootings by Islamic militants in the 1990s.
Hotels' revenues and occupancy rates fell resulting in the dismissal of workers.
Explosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
that took place at 6:30 p.m. local time on 22 February 2009 in Khan el-Khalili
Khan el-Khalili
thumb|200px|An old chandeliers shop at Khan el-KhaliliKhan el-Khalili is a major souk in the Islamic district of Cairo. The bazaar district is one of Cairo's main attractions for tourists and Egyptians alike.-History:...
, a souq in eastern Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, killing a 17 year old French teenager and injuring 24 other people. It was the first of the February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacks
February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacks
The February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacks were three incidents that took place in Cairo, Egypt between 22 February 2009 and 28 February 2009. Of the three attacks, only the first was fatal, resulting in the death of a 17 year-old French teenager. The attacks appeared to have been directed variously...
.
Attack details
The attack took place just after dark in front of a cafe crowded with people gathering to watch a televised footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match. There were conflicting reports that the bomb was thrown from a balcony or from a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
, but security officials reported that the bomb had exploded under a bench in a garden in the square. A second bomb failed to detonate and was defused
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
. The bombs weighed 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb) and contained nails and metal fragments. A 17-year-old French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
girl, who was among a group of 54 teenagers from Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.-Name:The name Levallois-Perret comes from two housing developments, Champerret and Village Levallois , and which resulted in the incorporation of the...
near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, was killed. 17 French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, one German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and three Saudi
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
tourists, as well as three Egyptians
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
, were wounded.
Early reports suggest the explosive devices were "primitive
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
".
Responsibility
According to security sources, there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any militant group, but three suspects had been taken into custody.Reactions
French President Nicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
and Prime Minister François Fillon
François Fillon
François Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
condemned the attacks.
The attack has raised fear of the return of the Islamic militants groups to target Egypt's tourism industry. The attacks have also been speculated to be linked to anger over Egypt's role in the Gaza conflict
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
The Gaza War, known as Operation Cast Lead in Israel and as the Gaza Massacre in the Arab world, was a three-week bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel, and hundreds of rocket attacks on south of Israel which...
. The bombing has caused concern for Cairo authorities, who saw the tourist industry devastated by bombings and shootings by Islamic militants in the 1990s.
Hotels' revenues and occupancy rates fell resulting in the dismissal of workers.
See also
- 2004 Sinai bombings2004 Sinai bombingsThe 2004 Sinai bombings were three bomb attacks targeting tourist hotels in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, on October 7, 2004. The attacks killed 34 people and injured 171.-The bombings:...
- April 2005 Cairo terrorist attacks
- July 2005 Sharm el-Sheikh attacks
- 2006 Dahab bombings2006 Dahab bombingsThe Dahab bombings of 24 April 2006 were three bomb attacks on the Egyptian resort city of Dahab. The resorts are popular with Western tourists and Egyptians alike during the holiday season....
- February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacksFebruary 2009 Cairo terrorist attacksThe February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacks were three incidents that took place in Cairo, Egypt between 22 February 2009 and 28 February 2009. Of the three attacks, only the first was fatal, resulting in the death of a 17 year-old French teenager. The attacks appeared to have been directed variously...