Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Al Qaida’s leading militia in Egypt has warned foreigners against visiting the Arab state.

Ansar Beit Al Maqdis said it would target the tourism industry, the largest earner of hard currency in Egypt.

Ansar, in its first such attack, took responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed three South Koreans and an Egyptian driver on Feb. 16.

“With God’s will we will be watching this treacherous gang of infiltrators and we will target their economic interests in all places in order to paralyze their hands from [hurting] Muslims,” Ansar said.

In a statement on Feb. 18, Ansar said it would continue to target Egypt’s economy. The Islamist militia said a bus filled with South Koreans was headed through the Sinai Peninsula and stopped at the border with Israel.

“Ansar Beit Al Maqdis has successfully sacrificed one of its heroes to detonate the bus headed toward the Zionists,” Ansar said. “And this comes as part of our economic war against this regime of traitors.”

Ansar set a Feb. 20 for foreigners to leave Egypt. In a departure from
previous statements, Ansar posted its warning in English on Twitter.
“We recommend tourists to get out safely before the expiry of the
deadline,” Ansar said.

Officials said the Egyptian intelligence community has warned that Ansar
and other Al Qaida-aligned militias would target the tourism industry in
southern Sinai. They said foreigners were deemed a soft target in the mostly
desolate peninsula.

Ansar has been deemed part of the Al Qaida global network. But
officials said the militia was also believed to be linked to the ousted
Muslim Brotherhood, which condemned the Feb. 16 suicide strike in Taba.

  Al Qaida warns tourists to stay away from Egypt, Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, Muslim Brotherhood, Sinai Peninsula, Taba