Egypt militants blow up gas pipeline in Sinai

CAIRO (AFP) - Suspected militants blew up a pipeline that transports gas to an industrial area in Egypt's Sinai on Tuesday, the fourth such attack this year, security officials said.

Attacks in the Sinai peninsula, namely against soldiers and policemen but also gas pipelines, have surged again following the military's overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July.

Militants planted a bomb under the pipeline south of al-Arish city, the officials said, adding there were no injuries.

There have been three other attacks this year, two targeting the same pipeline and one, on January 27 when militants blew up a pipeline that transports gas to Jordan.

Militants had previously forced a halt to gas supplies to Israel and Jordan by repeatedly targeting the pipeline following the 2011 overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

The January 27 attack was claimed by an al-Qaeda inspired group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis or Partisans of Jerusalem.

The group has claimed most of the deadliest attacks in Egypt since the army ousted Morsi, saying that they were in revenge for a deadly crackdown by the security forces on his supporters.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.