Egypt 2015 Crime and Safety Report

Key quotes:

Egypt has experienced several terrorist incidents over the past few years, and the threat of terrorist attacks outside of the Sinai Peninsula, a historic hotbed of activity, is now increasing. Overall domestic security environment remains far from stable (Egypt, 2015).

“Western females regularly report instances of sexual harassment (improper comments, gestures, indecent exposures, inappropriate physical contact, sexual assault). A number of women, to include foreigners, have reported being sexually assaulted in taxis and in public places, including while transiting crowded protest areas. Conservatively attired Egyptian women experience the same gender-based harassment (Egypt, 2015).”

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Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Rating: High Crime Threats From January 2011-March 2014, crime appeared to be increasing. Over 2014, the visibility of police has increased, and crime has generally leveled off and in some cases gone down slightly in the expatriate community. Because the security situation remains fluid, crime can be an issue of the expatriate community. The vast majority of criminal acts against expatriates or visitors continue to be crimes of opportunity (purse snatching, pickpocketing), often carried out by young males on motorbikes. There have been several instances where individuals passing on a motorbike grabbed women’s handbags, sometimes inadvertently injuring the victim. Additionally, semi-professional thieves target unaware visitors in popular restaurants and shops stealing purses, phones, and purchased goods. There are still a number of reports citing criminals using guns in the course of their robberies, although the frequency of such cases remains low. Women have reported attempted purse snatchings from drivers as they enter taxis. Carjackings are reported with some frequency in major cities. While generally occurring during late night or early morning hours, carjackings can occur at any time. Carjackings have been reported by Egyptians, foreign private sector personnel, and the diplomatic community. In most cases, the perpetrators seem to target newer cars, often SUVs, sometimes with the intent to extract a ransom from the owner. Recent incidents suggest that the best response to ensure one’s personal safety is to surrender the vehicle immediately. Reports have not indicated that any violence/harm has come to those victims who posed no resistance. This issue remains a concern, and the RSO assessment remains unchanged since last year. Western females regularly report instances of sexual harassment (improper comments, gestures, indecent exposures, inappropriate physical contact, sexual assault). A number of women, to include foreigners, have reported being sexually assaulted in taxis and in public places, including while transiting crowded protest areas. Conservatively-attired Egyptian women experience the same gender-based harassment. Areas of Concern There are restrictions on photographing military personnel/sites, bridges, and canals (including the Suez Canal). Authorities may broadly interpret these restrictions to include other potentially sensitive structures (embassies, public buildings with international associations, religious edifices). Visitors should also refrain from taking photographs of any uniformed personnel. Visitors have been detained for taking pictures of military, police or sensitive security related venues or events. Travelers to Egypt's frontiers, including the borders with Libya, Sudan, and Israel and parts of the Sinai off the main, paved roads, must obtain permission from the Travel Permits Department of the Ministry of the Interior, at the corner of Sheikh Rihan and Nubar Streets in downtown Cairo. Reports indicate that the security situation in the northern Sinai area, generally defined as the area north of the Cairo-Nekhl-Taba road, remains unsafe due to the continuing conflict. Travelers should be aware of the possible dangers of overland travel. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling outside the greater Cairo area by vehicle with a few exceptions and are generally required to travel between cities via commercial air. U.S. Embassy policy prohibits personal travel via privately-owned vehicle to any part of the Sinai Peninsula and closely scrutinizes travel west of Marsa Matrouh on the northern coastal highway toward the Libyan border and the North/South highways south of Fayoum. Popular tourist destinations (Siwa, the White Desert, Bahariya) are heavily scrutinized. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to the Sinai, except by air to Sharm El Sheikh. Overland travel by U.S. government employees anywhere in the Sinai outside of Sharm El Sheikh is prohibited. In addition, travel by road for U.S. government employees west of Marsa Matruh on the north coast is prohibited. Authorities restrict the travel of foreigners to the governorates of Asyut, Sohag, Minya, and Qena, and U.S. Embassy personnel traveling there (apart from Luxor and adjacent tourist destinations) require advance approval. Travel between Fayoum, Asyut, Sohag, and Qena, and Fayoum is only approved on a case-by-case basis. Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Vehicle accidents remain a significant safety concern. Egypt has one of the highest occurrences of road fatalities per mile driven in the world. Driving Cairo’s busy streets can be extremely challenging to foreigners, especially those used to a culture of structured rules and regulations. Even seasoned residents of Cairo must use extreme care and situational awareness to navigate the hectic streets. Traffic rules are typically ignored by impatient drivers and seldom enforced by police. If a visitor does self-drive, it is essential that they take the utmost precautions, and drive defensively. Motorists should be especially cautious during the rare winter rains, which can cause extremely slippery road surfaces and localized flooding; Egyptian drivers are not familiar with driving in wet conditions, making such periods particularly hazardous. Drivers should be prepared for: unlit vehicles at night; few/no road markings; vehicles traveling at high rates of speed; vehicles traveling the wrong way on one-way streets, divided highways and connecting ramps; pedestrians dodging in/out of traffic; and a variety of domesticated animals wandering the roadways. Most traffic lights in Cairo do not function; instead, police officers use hand movements to direct traffic. Pedestrians should also exercise extreme caution when traversing roadways, especially in high-volume/high-velocity streets like Cairo’s Corniche, which follows the eastern bank of the Nile River. Visiting Americans thinking about driving in Cairo should carefully consider other options, such as a taxi or hired driver. Always ride with windows up, doors locked, and never leave anything of value in the car. Public Transportation Conditions Public buses and microbuses are not safe, and U.S. Embassy personnel are prohibited from using them. The trend of serious accidents involving mini-buses and international tourist buses on highways outside of Cairo continued in 2014, and a number of people were killed in these accidents. Intercity roads are generally in good condition, but unmarked surfaces, stray animals, sandstorms/fog, and disabled vehicles without lights/reflectors are among the many hazards present on highways, especially after dark. Trains are a particularly unsafe means of transportation, with regular accidents that sometimes involve mass casualties. In 2013, there were several collisions involving passenger and cargo trains in the greater Cairo and Upper Egypt areas in which a large number of Egyptian nationals were killed/injured. Because of deteriorating infrastructure, a poor safety record, and the occasional blocking of the railways resulting from labor disputes or anger over train accidents, U.S. government are prohibited to travel by train. Trains and railways often see incidents involving attacks, which include improvised explosive devices. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence The removal of President Mohamed Morsy in July 2013 sparked a shift in the pattern of street violence that had marked the security environment from January 2011-July 2013. Before July 2013, a range of actors representing various causes frequently conducted demonstrations. In some cases, it was revolutionaries dissatisfied with the progress since Mubarak stepped down, liberals/secularists outraged over the new Muslim Brotherhood (MB) government, soccer hooligans with a history of violence directed at police, or even young street thugs possibly compensated for creating instability. Rocks, Molotov cocktails, lingering tear gas smoke and sometimes burned vehicles littered areas near government buildings, palaces, and historic squares (Tahrir). The threat to visitors was mostly from being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the protests, even when turning violent, rarely displayed anti-American sentiments. On August 14, 2013, MB sit-ins in Raba’a Al-Adawiya (Nasr City) and Nahda (Giza) Squares were dispersed by the police and military, resulting in the death of several hundred Egyptian citizens. The vast majority of deaths were caused by gunfire, reportedly coming from both sides. Since then, as the government cracked down on the MB and arrested many of its leaders, the MB demonstrations decreased in size and frequency, although isolated attacks targeting police often using drive-by shootings or bombings of police facilities began to surface. The situation has evolved to a rather fluid security environment. While demonstrations are still common, they rarely reach 2013 size and are often quelled by security forces. Reports of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have generally increased in the greater Cairo area, yet the majority of events do not result in causalities or property damage. Regardless, the overall domestic security environment remains far from stable. Political Violence Rating: High Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns In 2004, 2005, and 2006, several attacks were directed at tourist locations along the Red Sea. Prior to the October 2004 attack, there had been no terrorist incidents involving tourists since the mid-1990s. While not specifically aimed at Americans, these bombing attacks resulted in the death of numerous Egyptian nationals and foreign tourists, to include Americans, and prompted an increased security presence by security forces. Egypt has experienced several terrorist incidents over the past few years, and the threat of terrorist attacks outside of the Sinai Peninsula – a historic hotbed of activity – is now increasing: In February 2009, a small bomb exploded in the main square of the Khan al Khalili bazaar, causing many casualties among foreign visitors, including a French tourist. A second explosive device was discovered and detonated by police in the Khan al Khalili bazaar. On January 1, 2011, a bombing occurred in Alexandria at a Coptic church, resulting in a reported 27 deaths and 200 injuries. The victims were Christians and Muslims. In September 2012, authorities arrested members of a terrorist network in Cairo that may have been seeking to carry out attacks against government institutions and Western interests. On February 16, 2014, a suicide bomber detonated on a tourist bus in Taba, killing three South Korean tourists and the Egyptian bus driver, and wounding several others. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack and justified it as an attack on the government’s sources of income. This attack suggested the possibility that ABM could be shifting its focus from police to economic targets (tourism). On August 6, 2014 assailants carjacked and killed a U.S. citizen oil worker on the road to the al-Karama petroleum field in the Western Desert. On November 30, ABM claimed responsibility via Twitter for the attack. The two primary terrorist groups are: ABM, a Sinai-based group that swore allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on November 3, and Ajnad Misr. ABM has claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks in Cairo, demonstrating an ability to operate beyond the Sinai. ABM has primarily targeted police and police facilities, carrying out large-scale suicide bombings against the police headquarters in downtown Cairo and in Mansoura and several smaller bombing operations, including one directed at a police station in Dokki. In addition, ABM has claimed responsibility for the attempted car bombing assassination of the Minister of Interior in October 2013 and the killing of a senior MOI official in January 2014. ABM has demonstrated sophistication in planning and capacity, as it claimed responsibility for two RPGs fired at a cargo ship in the Suez and the downing of an Egyptian military helicopter by a surface–to-air missile in the Sinai. Prior to ABM’s more recent attacks on police outside the Sinai, the group had mainly focused on cross border attacks into Israel and had been responsible for multiple bombings of Egypt’s gas pipeline in the Sinai. Ajnad Misr is a Cairo-based terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in downtown Cairo and mostly focuses on government and security targets. The winter of 2013-2014 saw an increased occurrence of small, crudely-built explosive devices planted and detonated around the greater Cairo area. These devices have not targeted businesses or places frequented by members of the Embassy community. While generally producing noise or minor property damage, these devices are part of a disturbing trend that is expected to continue or increase. On January 14, 2014, the first day of the Constitutional Referendum vote, a medium-sized explosive device caused significant damage to the Imbada Courthouse. As 2014 continued, reports of IEDs generally increased yet varied in effectiveness and location. While security forces have been the primary target, tactics have shifted to areas that are considered civilian locations (streets, squares, businesses). The main purpose of these attacks appears to be to cause fear in the local populace and to discredit the government’s security capability. Most reports of IEDs are either safely defused or are “simulated” devices that do not contain explosive material. Visitors and foreign business associates should use caution entering and exiting buildings and avoid mass transit stations. We advise visitors to avoid government buildings and police stations whenever possible. Visitors should remain alert to their surroundings, be careful not to establish routine patterns, and be mindful that crowded tourist areas have been the target of terrorist activities. Travelers should use caution when visiting destination resorts and hotels without significant physical setback and security procedures. Terrorism Rating: High Civil Unrest Egypt has undergone a tumultuous period of political violence since January 2011, with continuous demonstrations and protests. These demonstrations often degenerate into violent clashes between police and protesters, resulting in deaths, injuries, and extensive property damage. Participants have thrown rocks and Molotov cocktails, and security forces have used tear gas and other crowd control measures. There are numerous reports of the use of firearms by demonstrators and security services. There was a violent protest in Cairo at a soccer match in early 2015 in which 19 persons were reportedly killed. While violent protests have occurred in major metropolitan areas (downtown Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Port Said); the security situation in most tourist centers (Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh) continues to be mostly calm and unaffected by civil strife. The highly symbolic Tahrir Square area remains a principal venue for political activism and protest. The police and military often maintain a large presence there to deter anti-government mobs from gathering and sporadically close access to vehicular traffic. Commerce outside of Tahrir Square area often continues unabated during protest activity in the downtown area. The larger impact to the city results from the paralysis of traffic. While there may be periods when the crowds appear celebratory or non-threatening, criminal acts are routinely committed under the shroud of anonymity a large crowd provides. In some cases, the protestors themselves have turned over alleged criminals to police or military units positioned near the square’s perimeter. Peaceful demonstrations have also turned violent with no notice, making them unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Sporting events in Egypt, especially soccer matches, cause heavy traffic disruptions and occasionally violent demonstrations and skirmishes. From 2009-2013, demonstrations have occurred at soccer stadiums and in front of foreign embassies when Egypt’s teams have played in international matches. A soccer match in Port Said turned violent in February 2012; fans of the Port Said team attacked the fans of a Cairo team. There were 79 people reported killed and over 1,000 injured. This tragedy sparked political violence throughout the country, as soccer fans, joined by revolutionary youth, clashed with security forces in downtown Cairo. The protestors blamed police for not responding effectively or implementing proper security safeguards to prevent the attack. A government inquiry found the police had not taken precautions to prevent the violence. Violent protests also followed the January 2013 sentencing to death of individuals involved in the Port Said massacre that, along with the January 25 anniversary protests in Cairo and Suez, resulted in many deaths and scores of injured between late January and early February 2013. Religious/Ethnic Violence Sporadic sectarian violence between Muslim and Coptic communities remains a concern, most notably in the Nile Valley governorates of Asyut and Sohag, between Cairo and Luxor. These governorates, along with adjacent governorates of Minya and Qena, have long been considered areas prone to extremist activity and sectarian strife. The government has directed security forces to provide heightened security for Coptic Churches and property in southern Egypt. Local Egyptians in the Cairo area have also taken to the streets on Coptic holidays to deter extremists from protesting or committing acts of violence. Post-specific Concerns Environmental Hazards Landmines have caused many casualties, including U.S. citizens. All travelers should check with local authorities before embarking on off-road travel. Known minefields are not reliably marked but are sometimes enclosed by barbed wire. After heavy rains, which can cause flooding and shifting of landmines, travelers should be careful when driving through build-ups of sand on roadways. Although mines are found in other parts of Egypt, the highest concentrations are located in World War II battlefields along the Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria, the Eastern Desert between Cairo and the Suez Canal, and much of the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is a geologically active region, and seismic activity occurs. Although earthquakes are rare, damage can be severe, especially to older buildings due to lax building codes and shoddy construction. The last major earthquake that resulted in damage was in 1996. Drug-related Crimes Punishment for drug use and trafficking in illegal drugs is severe. The drug trade has very little security impact on the diplomatic and expatriate community. However, hashish, methamphetamines and certain prescription drugs (Tramadol) are widely available. Kidnapping Threat The vast majority of kidnappings appears to be within the Egyptian community and are often carried out to settle a dispute among neighbors, rivals, or tribes or simply target a person known to be affluent. Children are often the targeted victim, and the cases generally seem to be settled quickly through the payment of a ransom. It appears that perpetrators are hoping for a quick payoff and intentionally avoid the scrutiny likely to come from kidnapping a higher profile businessperson or foreigner. While unnerving and not to be dismissed, there is nothing to suggest that the threat of kidnappings should be of great concern within the expatriate community. However, kidnappings are much more prevalent in the Sinai, with tourists having been targeted increasingly since January 2012. Kidnappers hold foreign tourists for several days in an attempt to seek concessions from officials, usually the freeing of detained family members. While all known foreign kidnap victims have been released unharmed, the danger of overland travel in the Sinai remains significant. In May 2012, two U.S. citizens were kidnapped and released a day later. In July 2012, two U.S. citizens were kidnapped and released a few days later. Overland travel from Israel to the Sinai or Alexandria westward toward Libya is strongly discouraged. Police Response Foreigners may experience a range of professionalism when dealing with Egyptian police. Emergency response times and the ability to conduct in-depth criminal investigations on petty crimes generally fall short of Western standards. Any item/souvenir that resembles an antiquity will be scrutinized closely by Egyptian Customs officials. How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment Police may detain a foreigner during a serious traffic accident until a statement is given. Crime Victim Assistance Police are generally responsive to visitors in need of assistance and will initiate investigations based on the report of a crime. While misdemeanor crimes may not receive the attention a visitor would expect, police tend to pursue felonies more assertively. The Embassy advises American citizens to contact American Citizen Services (ACS) at U.S. Embassy Cairo at 2797-3300 should they require assistance. Police hotline: 122 Tourist Police hotline: 126 Medical Emergencies Medical care generally falls short of U.S. standards, but there are many Western-trained medical professionals to include surgeons. While medical facilities are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in frequently visited tourist areas, emergency and intensive care facilities are limited. Most Nile cruise boats do not have a ship's doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner of uncertain qualification. Hospital facilities in Luxor and Aswan are inadequate, and they are nonexistent at most other ports-of-call. Ambulance Hotline – 123 Contact Information for Recommended Hospitals/Clinics The U.S. Embassy Cairo Regional Medical Office can provide a complete list of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. Cairo: El Salam International – 2524-0250 Alexandria: El Salama – 487-9999 CDC Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance For additional information on vaccines and health guidance, please visit the CDC at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/egypt?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001. Tips on How to Avoid Becoming a Victim Scams There are growing reports of criminal ruses against foreign visitors, often employing feigned concern over a stain/spill on clothing. While helping to wipe the clothing, the criminal will lift a wallet from a purse or pocket. Situational Awareness Best Practices Common sense precautions can greatly reduce vulnerability to a criminal incident or terrorist attack. One of the most important issues is surveillance recognition. Be aware of your surroundings and cautious about going anywhere with a stranger alone. The importance of varying times (arrival, departure, normal routines) cannot be stressed enough. Make sure you walk accompanied and stay in populated/well-lit areas. Stay alert waiting for taxis, elevators and crossing streets. Keep a low profile; dress down; use alcohol sparingly; and avoid disputes with locals. Do not wear headphones; you are less alert and advertise a valuable item. Limit or avoid display of jewelry and valuables. Be cautious about giving out personal information: your name; address; or phone number. Have your identification and a working cell phone with you at all times. Limit cash/credit cards carried on your person. Carry mobile phone and other valuables in a pocket rather than on a belt or in a purse. Be careful leaving items of value in hotel rooms or unattended in public places. Travelers are advised to avoid areas where there is heavy police presence or crowds assembling, to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any large public gatherings, and to stay away from demonstrations. Avoid crowds and move rapidly past scenes of any type of dispute. Foreign women are advised to dress modestly when going out in public covering their legs and shoulders and avoiding garments that are tight or otherwise revealing. The majority of these incidents occur on the streets of busy cities but have also been reported among maintenance workers or delivery persons inside the home. Women and teenage girls should avoid walking the streets alone after dark, and if they must be out, should not be alone. Additionally, they should be very careful with public transportation and should always sit in the back seat of the taxi and refrain from engaging in conversation, beyond basic pleasantries, with the driver. This issue remains a concern and the RSO assessment remains unchanged since last year. U.S. Embassy Location and Contact Information Embassy Address and Hours of Operation U.S. Embassy Cairo Consular Section 5 Tawfik Diab Street Garden City, Cairo Embassy Contact Numbers The Regional Medical Officer, American Citizen Services, the Regional Security Office, Political and Economic Section, Marine Post One, and other offices can be reached through the embassy switchboard at 2 02-2797-3300. This includes after-hours emergencies involving U.S. citizens. Fax: (20) 2-2797-2472 Website: http://egypt.usembassy.gov/ Consular coverage for multi-post countries The State Department has designated the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to handle American Citizens Services cases emanating out of Yemen, as well as to process visas for Yemeni citizens. Nearby Posts Consulate Alexandria: http://alexandria.usconsulate.gov/ Embassy Guidance OSAC constituents should closely monitor messages released by the U.S. State Department and follow recommendations by U.S. Embassy Cairo. For more detailed information, travelers should review the most recent Country Specific Information sheet for Egypt, available from the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov. OSAC Country Council Information Information on OSAC in Cairo can be found at https://www.osac.gov/CC/Cairo/. To reach OSAC’s Near East team, please email OSACNEA@state.gov.

References

Egypt 2015 Crime and Safety Report. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=17373

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