Egypt holds three suspects over Sinai bombings

EGYPTIAN security forces have identified those responsible for last month's terrorist bombings in the resort of Sharm el-Sheik and have made several arrests.

Egypt's pro-government newspapers reported yesterday that three suspects were in custody in connection with the 23 July attacks on the Sinai Peninsula in which at least 64 people, perhaps as many as 88, were killed.

Habib el-Adly, the interior minister, said yesterday: "The security services have succeeded in revealing the details of the terror attack and were able to identify the culprits. Key suspects who participated in the planning and execution were arrested."

The Al Ahram newspaper reported that one of the detainees was a farmer working for a Palestinian resident of el-Arish, a Sinai town close to the border with Gaza.

Al Ahram said police found a ton of explosives at a farm in el-Arish, but it did not make clear if the farm belonged to the Palestinian, who was not identified.