Egypt deploys some 500 policemen in Rafah to fight smuggling

Egypt's security forces have recently deployed some 500 policemen and armored vehicles and set up mud and iron roadblocks in the Rafah area, in a bid to fight the Gaza smuggling industry.

An Egyptian security official told the London-based Arabic-language al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper that "the extensive deployment created a lot of tension among the smugglers. Some have began approaching the security barriers from side roads and firing in the air." (Roee Nahmias)