Sinai
Photo: Reuters
Egyptian police seize large cache of explosives in northern Sinai
Some 1,200 kilograms of TNT found in 27 plastic sacks 100 kilometers west of the border with Gaza
Egyptian police found more than 1,200 kilograms (2,650 pounds) of TNT explosives Thursday buried in a northern desert on the Sinai Peninsula, a police officer said.
Capt. Mohammed Badr of the northern Sinai police force said officials discovered the explosives using a tip from local Bedouins and were investigating who had buried them.
The TNT was found in 27 plastic sacks near al-Raouda village, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the border with the Gaza Strip, he added.
Islamic militants have carried out three major bomb attacks in Sinai since October 2004. The blasts in the resorts of Sharm el-Sheik, Taba and Dahab killed 125 people.
The government blamed the attacks on a local Islamic militant group, which appears to have been inspired by al-Qaeda ideology.
Northern Sinai has also been a major entry point for weapons into Gaza.Israel has repeatedly accused Egypt of not doing enough to stop smuggling into the seaside strip, particularly through tunnels. Egypt recently said it would make a greater effort to stop smuggling.
