[View the story "Cairo hotel live-tweets raid" on Storify ]Cairo hotel live-tweets raid InterContinental sends out online call for help during robbery attempt. Storified by The Stream · Tue, Jan 29 2013 11:30:50
Escape to our 24 hour health club! Fully equipped: with #Sauna #SteamBath #Jacuzzi #PlungePool #Massage http://ow.ly/i/1pcU3InterContinental
Greeks may claim the creation but the Lebanese mastered this traditional dish! Join us @ Sabaya to decide for yourself! http://ow.ly/i/1pwyIInterContinental
THUGS HAVE ENTERED THE IC SEMIRAMIS ON THE CORNICHE!InterContinental
THUGS HAVE BROKEN DOWN BARRIERS, LOBBY DOORS, ARE INSIDE SERMIRAMIS! PLEASE SEND HELP! #Egypt #Cairo #Emergency #Jan25 #Jan28 #TahrirInterContinental
The hotel's Twitter account also requested that followers help the staff get in touch with Egyptian authorities:
SOS If anyone knows anyone in #Military #Police #Government, please send help! Thugs in Lobby #Emergency #Tahrir #Jan28 #EgyptInterContinental
Special Forces just arrived, attempting to deal with situation. There are NO injuries reported, Large crowds outside. #Egypt #Tahrir #Jan28InterContinental
Friend @ICSEMIRAMIS from senior management - she called ppl at military & police but NO HELP has been sent. They are under attack by thugs!Amy Mowafi
One Twitter user who claimed she was at the hotel during the attack sent out photos of the scene.
@Hildaislmail writes:
"We are in danger, we are in danger from the thugs. They entered Hotel Semiramis. Where are the stupid police? They can't control the situation!" احنا في خطر ،، احنا في خطر البلطجية دخلوا فندق سميراميس فين الشرطة الغبية مو قادرة تسيطر ع الوضع !!!!!!!!!ღ..هيـــلدا
The caption below reads: The Semiramis #Egypt now. Picture of the lobby.
#سميراميس #مصر الان صورة اللوبي http://pic.twitter.com/spdYFbtEღ..هيـــلدا
As news of the attempted robbery spread online, many wondered why the hotel's staff resorted to Twitter in order to get help from the police and military.
@ShaimaStreet @Cairo67Unedited @ICSEMIRAMIS how come u desperately tweeted SOS?dont u have direct contact with police through ur Guards?!!Zi
So it took special forces more than an hour to reach @ICSEMIRAMIS at 4:30 a.m.? Seriously, I don't get it!!! #Tahrir #Jan28 #EgyptHeba Hassabo
I expect the Twitter SOSes by Semiramsis were by a panicked employee given that all hotels have MOI hotlines. أبو كار
A number of Egyptians expressed suspicion about the authenticity of the raid, and were concerned that either the Muslim Brotherhood or military would blame it on anti-government protesters. Egypt's defence minister raised eyebrows on Tuesday when he
warned that growing unrest could lead to the collapse of the state.
#Semiramis, another case of manufacturing public consent to crackdown on anti-MB protesters.آدم
How much do you want to bet that what's happening at the Semiramis Hotel in #Tahrir Square will be blamed on the protesters? #EgyptAحmad H. عggour
@adamakary @HuriyaAkhdar Or of showing the need for a military takeover....sandra gore nielsen
Not everything is a conspiracy theory, Egyptian Twitter Society. #Egypt #semiramisMenna منّة
For its part, the Semiramis account thanked protesters, who
reportedly secured the hotel while staff and guests waited for the authorities to arrive.
Thank you all revolutionaries that stood by us last night...You are awesome#jan2813InterContinental
Some of the photos that emerged from the scene showed guests packing their bags and heading to the airport.
pic: under the protection of "protesters" ,some guests of Semiramis leave the Hotel and take a taxis to the Airport http://twitpic.com/bz6cxm 10Mohammed Mareeد.مرعى
هتوحشينا يا سياحة. Tourism, we will miss you.#Egypt #SemiramisDalia Ezzat