2012 Afar region tourist attack

{{short description|Terrorist attack in Ethiopia on 17 January 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox terrorist attack

|title=2012 Afar region tourist attack

|image= Afar in Ethiopia.svg

|caption= Map of Ethiopia showing Afar Region

|location=Erta Ale, Afar Region, Ethiopia

|target=

|date=17 January 2012

|time-begin=

|time-end=

|timezone=UTC+3

|type=Shooting

|fatalities=5

|injuries=3

|victims=4 kidnapped

|perps=

}}

{{Campaignbox Second Afar insurgency}}

The 2012 Afar region tourist attack was a shooting incident on the night of 17 January 2012 at Erta Ale volcano in the Afar Region of Ethiopia which killed 5 and injured 3. Four people were kidnapped in the attack.

Bereket Simon, the country's communications minister told Reuters the attack was carried out at 5 am on 17 January, by Eritrean-trained groups. Two foreigners, a driver, and a policeman were kidnapped. Eritrea denied having trained and armed the attackers.

{{cite news

|title = Ethiopia says four kidnapped in Afar tourist attack

|url = http://afriport.hu/angol-nyelv-hirek/11585-ethiopia-says-four-kidnapped-in-afar-tourist-attack.html

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130218002816/http://afriport.hu/angol-nyelv-hirek/11585-ethiopia-says-four-kidnapped-in-afar-tourist-attack.html

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 18 February 2013

|agency = Reuters

|date = 18 January 2012

|access-date = 2012-01-21

}}

It was later revealed that two Germans, two Hungarians and an Austrian were killed in the attack. Two Germans and two Ethiopians were kidnapped. Three people injured: two Belgians and a Hungarian.{{cite news

| title = Ethiopia: Tourists kidnapped after deadly Afar attack

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16610890

| publisher = BBC News

| date = 18 January 2012

| accessdate = 2012-01-21 }} The Germans were released 7 March the same year.[http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120307/ethiopia-rebels-release-german-kidnap-victims "Ethiopian rebels release Germans kidnapped in Afar desert]". GlobalPost, 7 March 2012. Retrieved 2013-7-3.. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120403021242/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120307/ethiopia-rebels-release-german-kidnap-victims Archived] 2013-07-13.