More details were released on Thursday regarding the three divers accused of cutting an internet cable off the coast of Alexandria.
The SMW4 maritime cable was allegedly cut at 8 am on Wednesday about 750 meters north of Alexandria, dramatically slowing down internet speed in Egypt and neighboring countries, according to Telecom Egypt.
Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali claimed that when engineers arrived at the scene, they found divers and a medium-sized vessel in the vicinity of the cut cable. The Navy dispatched two maritime vessels to arrest the divers, who then fled the scene in the direction of the Qaitbay Citadel, throwing their diving suits into the sea along the way, Mohamed Ali alleged.
Navy personnel arrested the suspects shortly thereafter. The Eastern Alexandria prosecution is currently conducting investigations into the incident.
The defendants have denied all charges, reported the Turkish news agency Anadolu. They claimed they were in the area searching for remnants of a shipwreck, and only fled the scene when they found themselves pursued by the Navy officers.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
