Cairo  - The body of an Israeli woman who had been "tortured" was found in a hotel compound in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Nuweiba, Egyptian security sources said Wednesday.

Police were investigating whether the woman's death had a criminal background or was caused by political extremists.

Nuweiba, located on the Sinai peninsula, was once a favoured destination of Israeli tourists.

After several terrorist attacks between 2004 and 2006 in the Sinai resorts of Taba, Nuweiba, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab, the number of Israeli vacationers to the peninsula has dropped significantly. (dpa)