They were American tourists with a tour in an area that has been Egypt’s biggest tourist destination for years, and they were returning from visiting a famous (Christian) monastery in the desert. They weren’t lefties out trying to bring a message of peace to the Muzzies or anything nutty.
A big part of this probably was an attempt by Islamists to disrupt the tourist industry, which is one of the few things that provide any income to Egypt nowadays.
Doesn’t matter what political side they’re on. I was speaking to their common sense. Why anyone, especially women, would visit the ME in these times is taking too much a risk.