Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the Interior Ministry to “intensify security presence” in vital sites, including archaeological sites, hours after police said security forces prevented an attack on a tourist site.
Sisi’s issued the orders to prevent “terrorist and extremist” groups from repeating such incidents, the state news agency MENA reported.
Earlier today, the Interior Ministry said it “foiled” an attack which targeted a tourist bus near Karnak temple in the tourist city of Luxor in the south of the country, killing two “terrorists” and injuring a third.
During a meeting with Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar and Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, the president praised security forces’ performance for dealing with the incident without any civilians casualties.
The Luxor attack did leave five individuals injured, including civilians and security personnel; all of whom were Egyptians.
Bombings and shootings targeting security forces have surged since the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule.
Most attacks first occurred in the Sinai Peninsula, but less frequently attacks were carried out in other parts of the country, including the capital.