Two American Women Traveling in Egypt Kidnapped by Bedouins

Two American woman abducted, along with their tour guide near the St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai, Egypt. Mohamed Naguib, head of security in the region, stated that the kidnappers were unknown Bedouins and “want certain detainees released and retried.”

The military and police officials say the abductors sped away in a sedan and a pickup truck, leaving behind three other people who had been in the minivan. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information, did not know the nationalities of those left behind. Authorities say a search is under way.

The two tourists were among a party of five travelling from Saint Catherine’s monastery in central Sinai to Sharm el-Sheikh.

The gunmen first took all the tourists’ money and valuables and then, as an apparent afterthought, grabbed the two women, forced them into their vehicle and fled into the mountains, the security officials said.

Two army and police search parties have gone into the area to try to track them down, the officials have said.

Bedouin in the Sinai, who complain of neglect and discrimination by the authorities in Cairo, have attacked police stations and blocked access to towns to show their discontent and press for the release of fellow tribesmen from prison.