Egypt’s Interior Ministry announced Thursday the arrest of 25 activists linked to al Qaeda suspected of plotting attacks on oil pipelines and ships crossing the Suez Canal. The statement said the new cell is led by a Palestinian and includes 24 Egyptians, mostly technicians and engineers.
The cell allegedly planned to use mobile phones to detonate explosives in the Suez Canal and learned to make car bombs from al Qaeda militants through jihadi websites. Once detained, the men confessed to funding their activities through foreign Islamic charities and robbing a local jewelry store owned by a Coptic Christian who they murdered.
