(AFP File Photo)
By Charlie Miller
Elements of the Egyptian Third Field Army have intercepted a van containing a total of 19 Grad rockets heading for Cairo, state-run Al-Ahram stated on Wednesday.
The rockets were reportedly found as the vehicle was searched at a security checkpoint between Suez and Cairo. The driver of the vehicle was found to be in possession of an automatic rifle, complete with a magazine and 21 rounds.
The spokesman of the armed forces’ office confirmed to the Daily News Egypt that the rockets found were Grads, and that they were found closer to Suez than Cairo, leading the armed forces to believe that this discovery is related to the ongoing violence in Sinai. The driver of the vehicle, he added, has been referred to the prosecutor’s office.
The Grad rocket is Russian designed, two metres in length and has a diameter of 122mm. The Grad usually has a range of just over ten miles (16km) and normally requires the use of a launch truck in order to fire the missile.
This discovery, announced by the Egyptian armed forces on Tuesday comes after a cache of counterfeit military equipment was found by members of the Ain Sokhna port authority.
