February 2009 Cairo terrorist attacks
Encyclopedia
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 at foreign tourists
and Egyptian nationals
alike. None of the attacks was described by Egyptian security officials as sophisticated. The motivation of at least two of the attacks was not clear, but the spate of violence came amid heightened tension following the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, during which Egyptians had protested against their government's closure of the Rafah Border Crossing.
on 2009-02-22 a bomb exploded
in Khan el-Khalili
, a souq in eastern Cairo.
The attack took place just after dark in front of a cafe crowded with people gathering to watch a televised football
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 suggested the explosive devices were "primitive".
According to security sources, there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any militant group, but three suspects had been taken into custody.
was stabbed
by an Egyptian man. The victim, who taught science at the American School of Alexandria in Alexandria
, Egypt, received superficial stab wounds to the face.
Police quickly arrested a 46 year-old Egyptian laborer
, Abdel Rahman Saleh Taher Mohammed (Arabic
: عبد الرحمن صالح طاهر محمّد), whose motive was quoted by the Egyptian state-owned
news agency
MENA as being a "hatred for foreigners because of the Israeli offensive in Gaza". It was subsequently revealed that the suspect had been detained
in a mental hospital
in 2000 for assault
s on tourists and police officers.
. The attack took place near to the Line 1
station of Helmiet El-Zaitoun, near Ain Shams
in north-eastern Cairo. The perpetrators fled the scene, and witness reports identified the suspects variously as a single man or two boys. No one appeared to be hurt, and the incendiary device
s may have failed to detonate.
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...
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
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
teenager. The attacks appeared to have been directed variously at foreign tourists
Tourism in Egypt
Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Egypt's economy. More than 12.8 million tourists visited Egypt in 2008, providing revenues of nearly $11 billion. The sector employs about 12 percent of Egypt's workforce. -History:...
and Egyptian nationals
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...
alike. None of the attacks was described by Egyptian security officials as sophisticated. The motivation of at least two of the attacks was not clear, but the spate of violence came amid heightened tension following the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, during which Egyptians had protested against their government's closure of the Rafah Border Crossing.
First incident: Khan el-Khalili bombing
At 18:30 local timeEgypt Standard Time
Egypt Standard Time is at UTC+2.As of April 21, 2011, Egypt stopped using daylight saving time. Its standard time is now used the whole year round, with no change in summer....
on 2009-02-22 a bomb exploded
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"...
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.
The attack took place just after dark in front of a cafe crowded with people gathering to watch a televised football
Football (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 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, were wounded. Early reports suggested the explosive devices were "primitive".
According to security sources, there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any militant group, but three suspects had been taken into custody.
Second incident: Khan el-Khalili stabbing
On 2009-02-28, an American teacher walking through Khan el-KhaliliKhan 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:...
was stabbed
Stabbing
A stabbing is penetration with a sharp or pointed object at close range. Stab connotes purposeful action, as by an assassin or murderer, but it is also possible to accidentally stab oneself or others.Stabbing differs from slashing or cutting in that the motion of the object used in a stabbing...
by an Egyptian man. The victim, who taught science at the American School of Alexandria in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt, received superficial stab wounds to the face.
Police quickly arrested a 46 year-old Egyptian laborer
Laborer
A Laborer or labourer - see variation in english spelling - is one of the construction trades, traditionally considered unskilled manual labor, as opposed to skilled labor. In the division of labor, laborers have all blasting, hand tools, power tools, air tools, and small heavy equipment, and act...
, Abdel Rahman Saleh Taher Mohammed (Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: عبد الرحمن صالح طاهر محمّد), whose motive was quoted by the Egyptian state-owned
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
news agency
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
MENA as being a "hatred for foreigners because of the Israeli offensive in Gaza". It was subsequently revealed that the suspect had been detained
Involuntary commitment
Involuntary commitment or civil commitment is a legal process through which an individual with symptoms of severe mental illness is court-ordered into treatment in a hospital or in the community ....
in a mental hospital
Mental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
in 2000 for assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
s on tourists and police officers.
Third incident: Metro bombing
Later on 2009-02-28, at least one firebomb was thrown from a bridge at a passing train on the Cairo MetroCairo Metro
The Cairo Metro in Egypt is the first of only two full-fledged metro system in Africa, and the Arab World. The system consists of two operational lines, with construction having begun on a third line in 2006....
. The attack took place near to the Line 1
Cairo Metro Line 1
Cairo Metro Line 1 is the first line of the Cairo Metro in Cairo, Egypt. It was constructed in 1989 and connects Helwan with El Marg passing other 32 stations. The line is 44 km long with 4.5 km underground and carries trains with 3 Units , which have a time difference of 2.5 minutes and...
station of Helmiet El-Zaitoun, near Ain Shams
Ain Shams
Ain Shams or Ein Shams is a suburb of Cairo, Egypt. The name means "eye of the sun" in Arabic, with reference to the fact that Ain Shams is built on top of the ancient city of Heliopolis, once the spiritual centre of ancient Egyptian sun-worship.According to the 10th century Jewish biblical...
in north-eastern Cairo. The perpetrators fled the scene, and witness reports identified the suspects variously as a single man or two boys. No one appeared to be hurt, and the incendiary device
Incendiary device
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus....
s may have failed to detonate.
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....
- 2009 Khan el-Khalili bombing2009 Khan el-Khalili bombingThe 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...