CAIRO, May 15 - An al-Qaida-linked cell, recently busted in Egypt, had planned to launch suicide car bombings at the U.S. and French embassies in Cairo, Egyptian official MENA news agency quoted prosecution sources as saying on Wednesday.On Saturday, Egypt's police arrested three suspects linked to al-Qaida, who intended to blow up vital premises in the Egyptian cities of Cairo and Alexandria.
The three men, named Amr Aqida, Mohamed Abdel-Halim Hemida and Mohamed Mostafa Bayoumi respectively, were arrested with 10 kg of materials used for manufacturing high explosives.
The suspects escaped from prison during the 2011 upheaval that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak, the state security prosecutor's office said.
Hemida had been extradited to Egypt from Algeria; and Aqida extradited from Iran, MENA reported. Aqida is also accused of planning to carry out terrorist attacks against the Egyptian army in Sinai.
The suspects have confessed communication with al-Qaida, but denied any intention to carry out terrorist attacks.
