SHARM EL-SHEIKH: A low-ranking police officer was injured Wednesday as South Sinai security forces thwarted an attempted armed robbery on Credit Agricole Bank in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Gunshots alarmed guests at the Sun Shine resort where the bank was located.
Eyewitnesses told Daily News Egypt that four armed men attacked Naema Bay with machine guns but escaped after their failed attempt to rob the bank.
Mohamed Naguib, head of the South Sinai security directorate, told DNE that Ahmed Fawzy, a low-ranking policeman, received two gunshots to the leg as the perpetrators escaped.
Naguib added that police forces have formed a security cordon and are combing the desert areas assuring that the perpetrators will be caught.
The robbery was attempted by four armed men, one of whom is from Suez, two from Qaluibiya, and one from South Sinai, according to Naguib.
Naguib also said that the injured policeman will be honored.
Some people formed popular committees to help the police locate the perpetrators. Farag Awad, a member of the popular committees, said that thieves from different governorates dress as Bedouins to mislead the police, as well as tarnish the image of South Sinai.
He added that there is a plot against tourism in Sharm El-Sheikh orchestrated by “Mubarak’s men” who have fled the country but are still funding criminals in Egypt.
Armed men also attempted to rob a parcel transport truck was robbed on the highway, 40 km from the South Sinai town of Abu-Redees. No one was injured.
Sayed Ahmed, head of the Egypt Post in the province, said the truck wasn’t carrying any cash, only packages, belonging to both the government and citizens. The armed men only took the weapon of the security man on board and fled after realizing there was no cash to steal.
Security officials said the perpetrators are on the run.
