Third Luxor Attacker Still In Coma: Hospital Officials
A militant who was wounded during a foiled terrorist attack in Luxor this week is in an “unstable” condition, a hospital official announced on Thursday.
The alleged attacker, who was not named, is suffering from brain lacerations and is in a coma, the manager of Luxor International Hospital Ahmed Abdel-Nabi told MENA agency.
He added that the two policemen and the historical site worker who were injured in the attack left hospital on Thursday evening.
Three militants were halted by police at the entrance to the Karnak temple complex on Wednesday, one of Egypt’s most famed ancient sites.
The interior ministry said in a statement that three people tried to “trespass” the security checkpoint at the temple “using gunfire and explosive materials”, but it said forces stopped them and “dealt with them” immediately.
Two attackers, it said, were killed “when a bomb one of them was carrying blew up”, while the third assailant was injured by a gunshot to the head.
However, media reports have been circulating saying prosecutors have “contradicted” police statements.
AFP said on Thursday it had spoken to the Luxor prosecutor in charge of the investigation who said that would-be assailants had been able to enter the temple’s parking lot unhindered and it was a taxi driver who warned police.
“They pretended to be tourists and entered the parking lot of the temple without any proper security check,” Wael Abu Deif told AFP, citing witnesses.
Two men left the taxi and joined a third accomplice at a sidewalk café, he added.
“Their suspicious taxi driver then reported them to a policeman, who went to the cafe and asked to search the bags they had. Then one blew himself up and the gunfight started,” the prosecutor added.
The attack had sparked local and international condemnation, as well as concerns within Egypt about the effect on the country’s struggling tourism sector. Security at key touristic and historical sites has been increased.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab visited Luxor on Thursday and made a trip to Karnak.
The temple complex, located on Luxor’s east Nile bank, includes temples, chapels and shrines.
Source : Ahram online
