Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Tunisia has foiled a military cell linked to Al Qaida.

The Interior Ministry said security forces nabbed 12 suspected insurgents believed linked to Al Qaida-aligned Ansar Al Sharia in Libya. The ministry said Ansar amassed a stockpile that included rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition and a 4.4 vehicle.

“All security units are constantly preparing to respond to terrorist threats by conducting surprise searches and raids,” Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Laroui said.

The arrests came ahead of national elections in November 2014, said to be threatened by Islamist insurgents. Officials said Tunisia was bracing for bombings, abductions and attacks on its soldiers along the borders with Algeria and Libya.

Officials said Al Qaida-aligned militias were transporting a range of weapons from Algeria. They said security forces seized a shipment that included a 4×4 vehicle that contained 28 grenades, 30 grenade fuses, 11 RPGs as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition.

In a briefing on Sept. 5, Laroui identified a key suspect in the insurgency campaign. He said the 25-member group that was transporting the weapons was led by Lokmene Abu Sakhr, accused of planning an operation that killed 15 Tunisian soldiers in July 2013.

“This is a dangerous terrorist,” Laroui said.

  Ansar Al Sharia, Mohammed Ali Laroui, Tunisia captures Al Qaida-linked terror cell with large weapons stockpile