TV anchors mock Paris amid terrorist attacks, Egyptian officials offer condolences

Television anchor Lamis al-Hadidy was criticized Saturday on social media for mocking last night’s terrorist attacks in France, which left at least 140 people dead.

“We want to send a team of investigators to inspect France’s restaurants. This is unsettling,” Hadidy tweeted shortly after gunmen opened fire on a Cambodian restaurant in Paris on Friday night.

Hadidy’s tweet mocked a team of investigators France sent to Egypt, from its BEA accident investigation agency, to ascertain why a French-made Russian plane crashed in Egypt’s Sinai on October 31, killing all 224 onboard.

Amid speculation the crash was caused by a bomb onboard the aircraft, Egyptian officials and pro-government media figures have been keen to dispel accusations by media and global leaders that Egyptian airport security is lacking in any way, fearing ramifications for the nation’s tourism industry in Sharm el-Sheikh and elsewhere.

Responses from other Egyptian social media users criticized Hadidy for being “unprofessional” and a “filthy media personality.”

A French twitter user commented: “Is it time for jokes? We are under attack madam,” adding, “This woman is pathetic, all she does is defend the Sisi dictatorship on every occasion.”

Hadidy retorted back: “Naturally I’m not gloating. We are also victims of terrorism. I’m only comparing the two incidents,” followed by a series of retweets supporting the Egyptian government.

“Tweet as if you are a French activist,” also circulated on social media on Saturday, questioning global outrage over terrorism in Western nations and not elsewhere.

Pro-Sisi television anchor Ahmed Moussa tweeted: “Turns out there are no activists except here. Turns out there are no traitors determined to destroy their country except here. Despite all the mistakes of its security forces, the French people rally behind their leadership.”

Another Twitter user referred to France’s security forces as “an army of croissants and smoked salmon.”

Egypt’s official state response to the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday has been more diplomatic, with state figures widely condemning the violence. 

Egypt’s State Information Service website issued condemnations by the presidency, Foreign Ministry, Endowments Ministry, the grand mufti, and Al-Azhar University.

The office of the presidency reportedly described the shootings and bombings in Paris as “heinous terrorist attacks.”

“Egypt is confident that such attacks will not undermine the will of global countries and peace-loving peoples, who will act even more firmly to eliminate terrorism,” presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef commented.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry expressed “full solidarity” with France, condemning the attacks as “barbaric terrorist acts” and expressing condolences to the French people.