Luxor attack in 1997

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The attack in Luxor , also known as the Luxor massacre , took place on November 17, 1997 in Deir el-Bahari , an archaeological excavation site near the Nile in Egypt . Islamists killed several dozen foreign tourists here. The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari is one of the most famous Egyptian tourist attractions.

Deir el-Bahari, Hatshepsut Temple (2007)

procedure

During the morning, six terrorists from the Islamist group Gamaa Islamija , armed with automatic weapons and knives, attacked a group of tourists who were on the second gallery of the temple at the time.

62 people, including 58 tourists, including 36 Swiss, ten Japanese, six British, four Germans and two Colombians, were killed. Four Egyptians were also killed, including three police officers and a guide. Twelve Swiss, two Japanese, two Germans, one French and nine Egyptians were wounded.

After the Egyptian guards were killed, the tourists trapped in the temple were systematically murdered over 45 minutes. Numerous bodies, mainly those of women, were mutilated with machetes. The terrorists used both firearms and butcher knives. A manuscript praising Islam was deposited in a gutted body. The victims also included a five-year-old British child and a Japanese couple on their honeymoon.

After the massacre, the attackers hijacked a bus but drove to an armed post of the Egyptian army. One terrorist was wounded, the rest fled to the mountains. The bombers' bodies were later found in a cave where they had apparently committed joint suicide.

consequences

The tourism industry in Egypt was severely weakened for several years by this attack. Today are at most of the sites or public places Officials tourism police with automatic weapons often stationed in armored shelters or with steel shields.

Appointment of al-Chajat as governor of Luxor

On June 16, 2013, the new Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi appointed Adel al-Chajat as governor of Luxor Province . Chajat is a leader of the Development and Development Party and founder of the Gamaa Islamija , which was responsible for the Luxor attack. In 1997 he was a provincial officer of the terrorist organization. The appointment sparked protests in Luxor. In the same month he resigned from office.

Adel al-Chajat was not held accountable for his role in the Luxor massacre.

Documentation

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Der Berliner Kurier, edition of November 18, 1997, in the text archive of the Berliner Kurier
  2. ↑ a b Army threatens to intervene. Retrieved July 1, 2013 .
  3. ^ Die Zeit, Archive 50/1997
  4. ↑ a b Militant from terror group behind Luxor massacre which left 58 foreigners dead is sworn in to govern same region by Egypt's Islamist president. Retrieved July 1, 2013 .
  5. ↑ Felix E. Müller : The Luxor massacre shocked Switzerland In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of November 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Governor of Luxor resigns from office ( memento from June 25, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), tagesschau.de, June 23, 2013.

Coordinates: 25 ° 44 ′ 18 ″  N , 32 ° 36 ′ 23 ″  E