Two explosions hit gas pipeline between Egypt, Jordan, and Israel

2011-11-11 05:11:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- Two explosions hit a gas pipeline between Egypt, Israel and Jordan on early Thursday morning, local media reported. It is the seventh time that the pipeline has been attacked this year.

The first blast happened at around 1 a.m. local time near the Mazar area, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the town of Al-Arish in the north of the Sinai peninsula. The second explosion took place near a pumping station in the same sector when the army was already deployed to the region, the Egyptian Gazette reported.

There were no casualties or reports of damage as the explosions happened far away from residential areas. The newspaper, citing security sources, said the fires were extinguished later on Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, masked people had attempted to explode two gas stations near the pipeline, but they failed due to additional security having been deployed since previous explosions. Therefore, the paper speculated, those responsible carried out the explosions far away from the stations.

Egypt's Sinai region is particularly security sensitive due to tensions with the bedouin community living there. Many goods are also smuggled to the Palestinian enclave of Gaza through Sinai.

Thursday's explosions mark the seventh attack on the pipeline so far this year. The most recent attack was on September 27, injuring one person.

Previous attacks were blamed on militants protesting against gas exports to Israel. Egypt supplies approximately 40 percent of Israel's natural gas which is fundamental to generate electricity.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-11

Can authorities catch at least one of the perpetrators - or follow some clues to get a better idea of who is behind it?

There are several adversaries in that region, so it would be interesting to get a better idea who's causing the damage - and discipline them.

It's also an environmental problem.