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Egypt bombing: New Foreign Office advice to UK holidaymakers in wake of terror attack

Published: 05:59 EST, 20 February 2014 | Updated: 06:45 EST, 20 February 2014

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British holidaymakers heading to Egypt have been warned against all but essential travel to South Sinai - with the exception of Sharm el Sheikh - in a security update by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The change in advice comes after four people were killed in a bomb blast on a tourist bus in Taba on Sunday. The FCO said it believes there is a high threat from terrorism and terrorists continuing to plan attacks.

It means Britons are now prevented from travelling to Red Sea resorts including Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab, and are advised against taking excursions to historic sites including St Catherine's Monastery and Petra in Jordan.

Bomb blast: Four people, including the driver, were killed in the attack on a tourist bus in Taba on Sunday

'Deep sorrow': Egyptian Tourism Minister, Hisham Zaazou, right, and Governor of South Sinai Khaled Fouda, centre, are briefed by an official after the attack

Enhanced security measures are in place in Sharm el Sheikh resort areas, and Egyptian military have been deployed to check-points around Sharm el Sheikh, at its international airport, and throughout South Sinai, the FCO said. Its advice for other areas of Egypt remains the same, including warning against visiting North Sinai.

The update from the FCO comes a day after Egypt's prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi admitted the Sinai Peninsula-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis - the militant group behind the attack - was a threat to tourists. In a statement, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zaazou, said he expressed his 'deep sorrow' for the 'tragic incident'.

'We, at the ministry of tourism, are ensuring that all security bodies are undertaking the necessary precautionary measures to guarantee that such an incident to the extent possible will not occur again,' he said.

'The perpetrators and the guilty will be detained and prosecuted. Justice will be served. Law and order will prevail.'

It comes just days after MailOnline Travel reported two of the UK's biggest holiday companies had suspended excursions to St Catherine’s Monastery on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula following a bomb near the historic site three days ago.

New advice: Map of FO restrictions in place in Egypt for UK travellers

Thomas Cook and Tui Travel - which owns Thomson and First Choice - halted their day trips to the UNESCO World Heritage site from the nearby Sharm El Sheikh. Tui said in a statement: ‘As a precaution however we have cancelled excursions to St Catherine’s Monastery.

‘Customer safety is of paramount importance to us and we continue to work closely with the FCO and the British Consulate to monitor the situation. Egypt remains a popular destination for us and customers are enjoying their holidays as normal.’

Red Sea Holidays and Hayes and Jarvis have also cancelled their excursions to St Catherine's Monastery.

The attack occurred on Sunday in the Red Sea resort of Taba as an Egyptian tourist bus carrying more than 30 people was waiting near a border crossing with Israel at Eliat.

The driver and two South Koreans got out of the bus and checked the cargo hold. As they were re-boarding, the suicide bomber pushed through the open door into the bus and detonated his explosives, Interior Ministry spokesman Hani Abdel-Latif said.

Popular tourist attraction: Travel restrictions are now in place around St Catherine's Monastery

Three passengers and the Egyptian driver were killed in the blast.

Militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, Arabic for Champions of Jerusalem, said in a statement posted on militant websites on Monday that one of its ‘heroes’ carried out the bombing.

The statement criticised the intensified Egyptian military operations in the Sinai Peninsula along the border with Israel targeting the militants' hideouts and vehicles.

The Al Qaeda-inspired group has claimed responsibility for previous attacks, but until now they have targeted primarily police and the military.

It is a new blow to the country’s struggling tourist industry, which has suffered as a result of three years of political turmoil. After hopes of a rebound, last year saw the fewest visitors yet since the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

In 2010, more than 14.7 million tourists visited the country generating $12 billion (£7 million) in revenue but last year those visitor numbers had dropped to 9.5 million.

The new attack threatens the beach resorts of the Red Sea - a region that has kept Egypt's tourism ticking over during the downturn.

Restrictions: The FO is advising against all-but-essential travel in South Sinai, except Sharm el Sheikh

On its website, the FCO has updated its travel advice to UK holidaymakers travelling to Egypt to read: 'We are now advising against all but essential travel to the Governorates of Beni Suef, Minya, Asyut and Sohag and the Governorate of South Sinai, with the exception of the area within the Sharm el Sheikh perimeter barrier - which includes the airport and the areas of Sharm el Maya, Hadaba, Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq.

'We also continue to advise against all travel to the Govenorate of North Sinai.

'We believe there is a high threat from terrorism and terrorists continue to plan attacks. Attacks could be indiscriminate and occur without prior warning. Terrorists could target protesters and the Egyptian authorities.

'Attacks targeting foreigners cannot be ruled out. Attacks have mainly been aimed at the security forces, their facilities and other government buildings. You should take great care near these buildings.'

It added: 'Routine security checks are being performed on entry into the airport and the police are carrying out vehicle checks in Sharm el Sheikh. There were no violent protests in the South Sinai resorts during recent disturbances in Egypt.'