Egypt-Israel gas pipeline attacked - Debkafile's (Mosad) imediately blamed Hamas

Unknown attackers blow up North Sinai pipeline that supplies gas to Israel.

Last Modified: 05 Feb 2011 07:36 GMT

Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through Egypt's North Sinai and supplies gas to Israel, Egypt's state television reported.

It was not immediately clear what impact Saturday's blast had on gas flows.

"Saboteurs took advantage of the security situation and blew up the gas pipeline," a state television correspondent reported, saying there was a big explosion.

He also blamed the blast on"terrorists".

Residents in the area also reported a huge explosion and said flames were raging in an area near the pipeline in the El-Arish area of north Sinai.

According to a security source, the Egyptian army closed the main source of the gas supply to the pipeline.

"The armed forces and the authorities managed to close the main the source of flow and are trying to control the fires," the source said.

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Flames raging in an area near the pipeline in El-Arish, Egypt authorities turn off gas flow through the pipeline, Egypt state television reports.

The gas pipeline linking Egypt and Israel has been blown up by "terrorists", according to Egyptian state television

(CNN) -- A gas pipeline was set on fire in the Egyptian Sinai town of El Arish on Saturday in a suspected terrorist attack, the country's state media reported.

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