Be7maro (II)

By Ashraf Sweillam

First Published: March 16, 2007
Associated Press

EL-ARISH: A potential Palestinian suicide bomber and 10 Egyptians were arrested in the northern Sinai peninsula, a security official said on Thursday.

The Palestinian, identified as Hamid Al-Nador, was detained Tuesday while wearing an explosive belt inside a beach resort in the border city of El-Arish, the security official said speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

An Egyptian man, identified as Ahmed Abdel Moaz Mohammed, was arrested together with the Al-Nador, who said he was plotting attacks against Israelis, according to the official.

The official did not elaborate whether the Palestinian was planning to attack Israelis in Egypt or perhaps cross into Israel.

The official said that nine other Egyptians were also arrested Tuesday and Wednesday in the border city of Rafah.

They are believed to be part of a large militant group which has already had 60 Egyptian and Palestinian members detained here since February.

Authorities have put the northern Sinai peninsula on high security alert, while hundreds of troops have been deployed searching for more suspects, the official said.

Since Oct. 2004, Sinai towns of Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba and Dahab witnessed a string of deadly terrorist attacks that killed 125 people.