Unknown attackers shot in North Sinai pipeline that supplies gas to Jordan.
Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through the area of El-Arish in northern Egypt, the Sinai area and the supply of gas to Jordan and Israel, according to Egyptian state television.
Jordan path that goes from El-Arish to Aqaba and then to Amman has been damaged by the explosion on Saturday.
But it has been reported that the pipeline from Ashkelon, Israel has not been affected.
The explosive was placed inside or adjacent to the control station of the gas supply line. There were no immediate reports of injuries or casualties as a result of the explosion.
"Saboteurs took advantage of the security situation and blew up the pipeline," a correspondent for state television, saying there was a big explosion.
State television quoted an official as saying that "the situation is very dangerous and the explosions were from one place to another" along the pipeline.
"It's a big terrorist operation," a reporter for state television.
The area residents also reported a loud explosion and said the flames that burned in the area.
According to security sources, the Egyptian army closed the main source of gas supply to the pipeline.
"The armed forces and the authorities managed to close the main source of flow and are trying to control the fires," the source said.
Sinai Governor has confirmed to Al Jazeera that the fire resulted from the explosion of the gas supply line has been controlled and that the terminal infrastructiure the gas has not been seriously damaged.
corrspondent Egypt Al Jazeera reported that "do not yet know who was behind the blast and no group has claimed responsibility."
According to Al Jazeera sources, witnesses are being interviewed by authorities and the investigation focuses on a few Bedouin tribes of northern Sinai.
Bedouin tribesmen in Sinai Peninsula tried to blow up oil pipeline in July and escalated the tensions between them and the Egyptian government, which they accuse of discrimination and to ignore the situation.
"They do not enjoy the wealth generated by the state of the Sinai Peninsula, the money has not benefited the communities there," said our correspondent.
Protests against the government of Egypt has entered its 12th day, despite the protesters' demands that President Hosni Mubarak should leave office immediately, said that if indeed step down and then the country will sink into chaos, growing security concerns.
"The issue of security is often used in Egyptian politics, but many Egyptians say that tensions in Egypt have been for the government.
"Bedouins, the arms trade and drug trafficking are some internal problems that the central government in Cairo is not treated," said our correspondent.
The gas supply from Egypt account for 40 percent of gas imports from Israel.
And while the gas supply route to Israel has not been affected by this explosion, but the Israeli authorities remain concerned as the facts have been developed in Egypt in recent days.
Al Jazeera correspondent Tony Birtley reports from Jerusalem that "the Israelis have been very nervous during the last 10 days, if a government comes to power in Egypt that Israel does not like then present security issues for Israel.
"Israel is realizing that his good friend (Mubarak) is on its way out, not sure who is on the way in."
Our correspondent, Nisreen El-Shamayleh, reported from Amman, the Jordanian ministry of energy officials are in contact with the Egyptian government to see if the pipes that carry gas to Jordan have been affected.
The ministry did not release any information until it receives the official response from Egypt.
A former Jordanian government official dismissed told Al Jazeera that "This is what is feared (with respect to the riots in Egypt, which affect Jordan).
"Gas prices will rise now, after the Jordanian government announced its commitment to the most affected by increases in fuel derivatives until March to reduce economic hardship after the massive protests here," said the former official.
Ghaleb Al Maabreh, the head of the national electricity company of Jordan told Al Jazeera that he stopped pumping gas from Egypt to Jordan after the explosion and not before.
He said that the Egyptians will repair the pipe in less than a week and that the situation is "manageable."
