Egypt identifies Sharm el-Sheikh bombers - paper

Egyptian security have identified through DNA testing the three suicide bombers behind the attack on the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in July that killed at least 64 people, the semi-official Al-Ahram newspaper reported.

The bombers travelled from the north Sinai town of El Arish to carry out the attack, it said. El Arish, which is on Sinai's Mediterranean coast, has been a focus for investigations since the first of a series of Sinai attacks in October last year. The newspaper, which did not give a source for its report, said the bombers who attacked Sharm el-Sheikh on July 23 were Mahmoud Mohamed Hammad, Mohamed Oudeh Saeed and Moussa Ghoneim. It said the bombers and others in their cell were from Sinai.

The remains of the bombers were identified through DNA testing and from questioning other suspects, the newspaper said. Two of the bombers, who drove vehicles to attack a hotel and a market street, used gas canisters packed with explosives, it said. The third carried a bag with explosives, Al-Ahram added. Egyptian security forces have been sweeping the northeastern region of Sinai near El Arish to search for those behind the Sharm el-Sheikh attacks. Several police have been killed or wounded by landmines under their vehicles or in shootouts with fugitives.