CAIRO - Egyptian security forces have arrested 24 suspected terrorists, part of a Palestinian-led cell that was plotting to strike oil pipelines and ships entering the Suez canal, the Egyptian Interior Ministry announced Thursday. 

The cell is linked to al-Qaeda and also had connections with terrorists in the Gaza Strip. 

Most of those arrested were Egyptian engineers and technicians.

A statement by the Egyptian government said the terrorists had planned to detonate explosives against ships crossing the Suez by using cell phones as remote control devices. They also learned to construct car bombs by consulting al-Qaeda-affiliated Web sites.

Some of those arrested said Islamic charities overseas provided funding for the cell. 

The terrorists also robbed an Egyptian jewelry store and murdered its owner, a Coptic Christian, according to the Interior Ministry.
 
Sources:  AP, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post