The threat of a terrorist attack targeting tourists in the Sinai peninsula in Egypt is so acute that the Dutch foreign ministry says Dutch nationals should leave the area.

‘Dutch nationals who are now in Sharm el Sheikh or another Sinai resort are advised to leave the area and contact their tour operator about this,’ the update said.

Tour operators are now evacuating holidaymakers and the first group are due back on Friday, news agency ANP says.

According to broadcaster Nos, it is not clear where the information about the risk has come from. The travel warning was issued on Thursday.

The attack on a coach carrying South Korean tourists on February 16 was not used as a reason to increase the level of the warnings, Nos points out.

Germany

Germany stepped up its travel warning on Wednesday and the Netherlands has now followed suit. This could mean the Netherlands was given access to the German security information, Nos says.

Britain has not altered its position. Nor has Russia, which is currently the biggest source of foreign tourism to the region.

There are currently around 1,000 Dutch nationals at the resorts, a fraction of those who used to visit Egypt prior to 2011.