Egypt thwarts car-bomb targeting Rafah military base
Published today (updated) 07/01/2013 15:10
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=554193

EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma'an) -- Egyptian military forces foiled an attempted
car-bombing near a Sinai base on Monday, security sources said.

Egypt's military received intelligence from field agents about two
suspicious vehicles parked behind a border guard camp and a deserted church
in Rafah, security sources told Ma'an.

Three military vehicles headed to the area, where they clashed with masked
gunmen. One vehicle managed to escape, and another gunman fled the scene,
leaving behind a car which was full of explosives.

An RPG shell was also found in the vehicle.

Security sources did not rule out the possibility that extremists were
targeting the church, but said the most likely target was the Egyptian
military base in the area.

Egyptian security forces have waged a security campaign in the desert Sinai
region to reign in militant groups, after 16 Egyptian border guards were
killed in an attack on their post in August.