The National Security Agency has foiled an attempt to attack foreign ships passing through the Suez Canal, an Interior Ministry source said.
The same source said the agency discovered the details of the plot, allegedly developed by a citizen who lives in the Sheikh Zayed area of Ismailia Governorate. His plan was to attack a foreign tanker passing through the Suez Canal from a piece of land located next to the canal in Qantara Sharq, Ismailia.
The source added that the suspect attempted to persuade others to help with the aim of harming the country’s economic resources. The National Security Agency received information that indicated he managed to persuade another resident in the same area to carry out the attack.
The two suspects were arrested for 15 days pending investigations.
In September 2011, Egyptian military and police forces said they discovered anti-aircraft rockets and launching pads near the Suez Canal, state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported.
The newspaper’s website said the forces found four crates, including eight surface-to-air missiles and three launching pads at Abu Khalifa, 2 km from the Suez Canal.
The report explained that workers at a nearby gypsum factory reported the discoveries to security authorities.
The Sinai Peninsula and Suez Canal areas have caused security headaches for Egyptian authorities since the outbreak of the 25 January revolution, with several arms caches found by security forces.
Translated from MENA
