Report: Egypt arrests terrorist cells in Sinai
According to report in al-Ahram, Egyptian security forces detain Palestinians with bomb belt planning to carry out suicide bombing in Israel; another group found to be in possession of maps, weapons
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, according to a report in al-Ahram on Wednesday
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.
According to the sources, the Palestinians tried to bribe the Egyptian security officers with large sums of money in order to allow them to bring a truck across without being checked.
Al-Ahram also reported that Egypt has set next month as a deadline for all Palestinians who came into the Sinai Peninsula following the destruction of the Gaza Strip border fence to return back to the enclave.
The article noted that the Egyptians are deploying en masse in northern Sinai and preparing to take all legal measures possible against people who break the law there.
"The current border fence will be replaced by a different, more sophisticated fence, in order to completely prevent infiltration attempts and in order to maintain Egyptian national security.
"(This will be done) in a bid to carry out national and international obligations and in a way that will enable entrance into Egypt via legal border crossings only," one official said.
