Egyptian security forces
Photo: AP
Report: 2 Palestinian terror cells nabbed in Sinai
Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports Hamas operatives planning to attack tourists captured by Egyptian security forces in peninsula
Egyptian security forces arrested Thursday two Palestinian terror cells in Sinai, London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Friday.
According to the report, the men arrested were all Hamas operatives who were planning to carry out terror attacks against tourists in the peninsula. They were found to be carrying explosives.
Egyptian security officials confirmed that 10 operatives were captured, and added that two escaped and that security force wee still searching for them.
The men arrested have been transferred to Cairo for further questioning, and pictures of the two who escaped have been distributed among the Bedouins in the region and to all border crossings in the country.
Two cells arrested earlier in the week
On Wednesday, Egyptians security forces arrested five Palestinians in Taba, across the border from Eilat, who were in possession of a bomb belt which they planned to use in a suicide bombing in Israel, Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram reported.
According to the article, the five were taken in for questioning.
The newspaper, which is considered a mouthpiece for the Egyptian government, also mentioned that an additional group of Palestinians was caught in possession of a map indicating openings and troop concentrations along the Israeli-Egyptian border.
The Palestinians were also found with a large explosive device and some sophisticated weapons including sniper rifles.
These men were also detained for questioning.
