Manhunt in Egypt as Al Qaida infiltrators target Sinai resorts
CAIRO — Egypt has issued an alert of an imminent strike by Al Qaida on resort areas frequented by tourists during Passover.
Officials said Egyptian security forces have been ordered to search for
at least two Sudanese nationals sent by Al Qaida to bomb government
buildings or resort sites. They said the Sudanese infiltrated Egypt's Sinai
Peninsula with a pickup truck laden with explosives.
The focus of the manhunt has been El Arish, the capital of North Sinai.
Police and security forces established roadblocks and stopped vehicles
inside and around the port city.
Egyptian security sources have assessed that the alleged Al Qaida plot
was meant to target Israelis and other Westerners ahead of the Passover
holiday in mid-April. Thousands of Israelis and other nationals were
expected to vacation in Sinai during the week-long holiday.
Al Qaida's No. 2, Ayman Zawahri, has warned Cairo of fresh attacks. The
sources said Hamas operatives, who infiltrated Sinai and Cairo in January
and February 2008 might be working with Zawahri.
The last major bombing in Sinai took place in 2004. Since then, Egypt
was said to have foiled several plots to attack Israeli and other tourists
in the peninsula.
Egyptian security forces have also been battling the Muslim Brotherhood.
About 300 Brotherhood members have been arrested in a series of raids in
advance of nationwide municipal elections.
The regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has sought to block the
banned Brotherhood from running in the elections. Egyptian courts have
ordered the government to recognize Brotherhood candidates.
