Egypt arrests suspect for gas pipeline blasts

SINAI, Egypt - The Egyptian authorities in Sinai arrested early Sunday the suspected mastermind for the explosions of gas pipelines to Israel and Jordan, a local security source told Xinhua.

Mohamed Eid Al-Teihy, the leader of the Takfir wal-Hijra (excommunication and emigration) group in Sinai, was arrested in Arish City and charged with being the leader of all the terrorist attacks in Sinai this year.

The attacks also included one on a police station in July that killed at least four people.

The Takfir wal-Hijra group revealed itself to be related to Al- Qaida.

The gas pipelines to Israel and Jordan have been bombed seven times since February, and the gas supply to the two countries was repeatedly disrupted.

The latest attack targeting the pipelines happened last Thursday.