Blast Rocks Egypt’s Gas Pipeline To Jordan

An explosion late on Tuesday struck an Egyptian pipeline that carries gas to Jordan in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, state news agency MENA reported — the latest in around two dozen such attacks since 2011.

The blast, which occurred in an area called Al-Qoraiyaa, southeast of the coastal town of Al-Arish, hit the major line leading to the Sinai resort town of Taba, which transports gas to Jordan, an official at the company that operates the line said.

The flow of gas along the pipeline was halted to control a fire that sent thick flames shooting in the air, security sources said.

The sources added that the bombing, which left no casualties, bears the hallmark of around two dozen of previous attacks on the pipeline since the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, with the latest explosion taking place early in August.

Targeting the pipeline has repeatedly caused a halt to gas exports to Jordan and Israel, the latter of which Egypt used to supply until April 2013.

Egypt has seen an upsurge in attacks by militants, mainly based in the mountainous Sinai Peninsula, since the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Militants have also struck Cairo and the Nile Delta with bombings and shootings that have mainly targeted soldiers and police, but have also caused civilian casualties.

Also on Tuesday, at least 12 people were injured in a bomb blast caused by a homemade explosive device in central Cairo.

Source : Ahram online