Ma'an news agency reports 7-man Army of Islam squad may have already evaded Egyptian security forces on its way to the coastal enclave.

By Haaretz Service 13.11.10


Egyptian forces in the Sinai Peninsula have been put on high alert over the hunt after an Army of Isalm terror squad which is believed to have infiltrated the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported on Saturday.

The report comes mere days after Egypt reportedly rounded up a cell of over 25 people suspected of being part of a radical Islamic group that planned to attack Israeli tourists visiting the Sinai peninsula.

In recent months Egyptian forces have made dozens of arrests and uncovered large caches of arms apparently destined for terrorist activities against Israelis.

In its report on Saturday, Ma'an claimed that Egyptian security forces were searching for a group of seven Army of Islam militants who may have already infiltrated into the coastal enclave, and who may be linked to a recent rocket attack on Eialt and Aqaba believed to have been launched from the Sinai.

The raised alert comes a little over a week after Israel claimed responsibility for the assassination of a top-ranking Army of Islam militant in the Strip.

On Thursday, Time Magazine reported that Egyptian intelligence had aided Israel's hit on the terror strongman, as a result of its desire to damage Hezbollah's efforts in the Sinai Peninsula.

Mohammed Nimnim, 37, a senior member of the Army of Islam was killed when his car exploded outside a police station in Gaza City.

Israel initially refused to comment on the attack but the Israel Defense Forces later confirmed it had carried out a joint operation with the Shin Bet security service.

The IDF spokeswoman referred to Nimnim as a "ticking bomb", saying he was part of an al Qaida-linked group that was planning attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.




http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/egypt-raises-sinai-alert-level-over-gaza-bound-terror-squad-1.324432


Fence marking border between Egypt and Israel -