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Egypt Arrests Islamist Leader Tied to Pipeline Bombings

Egyptians watch as smoke and flames rise into the air after masked gunmen blew up a terminal of the Egyptian natural gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan in el-Arish, in the northern part of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, in a predawn attack, July 12, 2011.

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Last updated on: November 12, 2011 7:00 PM

Egyptian police have arrested a leading member of an armed Islamist group suspected of several bombings of a pipeline supplying gas to Israel and Jordan.

Officials say Mohammed el-Tihi was arrested Sunday in the northern Sinai town of al-Arish. Egyptian authorities say he is responsible for a series of attacks on the pipeline that has disrupted fuel supplies for weeks throughout the year.

Saboteurs have attacked the pipeline at least six times this year. The pipeline is run by Gasco, a subsidiary of Egypt's national gas company.

Authorities say al-Tihi is also responsible for deadly attacks on police in the Sinai.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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