Is Egypt safe? Travel update and advice following attack leaving over 300 dead
EGYPT holiday travel advice update from the Foreign Office after a deadly attack at a mosque killed over 300 people.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have updated their Egypt travel advice, following the Sinai terrorist attack late last month.
The latest advice update said travellers should "remain vigilant at all times and follow the advice of local security officials".
"Avoid crowded places and gatherings, including in or around religious sites. During religious festivals (including the holy month of Ramadan), terrorist groups sometimes call for attacks," the advice continued.
"Take extra care over local holiday weekends as some terrorist attacks have occurred during these times."
Egypt was hit by a deadly attack on 24 November, leaving over 300 people dead after a bomb exploded at the Al-Rawdah mosque in Sinai earlier today.
It is thought that supporters of security forces were praying there, and they may have been targeted.
A gunman was then reported to have opened fire on the crowd who were fleeing as well as the ambulance services in the area.
Is it still safe for British tourists to travel there?
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The political environment in Egypt remains restrictive
The Egypt government has declared three days of mourning following the large scale attack.
On November 6, the Foreign Office warned "the political environment remains restrictive" in Egypt.
“The Governorate of North Sinai due to the significant increase in criminal activity and continued terrorist attacks on police and security forces that have resulted in deaths.”
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There are further warnings about Egypt terrorism on the site, which the Foreign Office warns is "very likely".
"The main threat is from extremists linked to Daesh-Sinai."
As part of this warning, the Foreign Office advises against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai.
They also advise against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai and the area west of the Nile Vallet and Nile Delta regions.
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Earlier this month, the Egypt travel advice was updated by the Foreign Office following the arrest and imprisonment of tourist Laura Plummer after a 300 tablet supply of prescription drug Tramadol was found in her suitcase at Hurghada airport on 9 October 2017.
She was accused of smuggling the drug, which is an illegal medicine in Egypt.
Back in September, Peter Fankhauser, Chief Executive of Thomas Cook, said he welcomed Egypt's revival as a holiday destination.
“Both destinations are wonderful countries, with great hotels, great beaches, nice people, and it’s really good value.
“People want to go back. We are not a security company.
As long as we have the advice of the Foreign Office that we can fly to Egypt and Turkey, we offer a great product.”
