CAIRO, 30 November 2005 — Egypt was searching for 25 Pakistanis yesterday after they disappeared from their hotel in Alexandria, leaving behind their passports and personal effects, according to security sources. The source said that the group was thought to have been using the Mediterranean coastal city as a jumping off point for illegally entering Europe.
The group had checked in to an Alexandria hotel Wednesday and disappeared Friday.
The Pakistani Embassy was informed about the disappearance. No-one at the embassy was available for comment on the matter.
News reports appeared in several state-owned dailies, including Al-Akhbar, which printed the theory that a plan for illegal immigration explained the mysterious disappearance.
Egypt is an occasional starting point for attempts to enter Europe illegally, via its Mediterranean coast, though Libya is a more frequent jumping off point.
