CAIRO: A series of explosions occurred in a military weapons depot near Ismailia Sunday night, the Al-Arabiya television channel reported. The report said an explosion occurred at a military base in Abu Sultan, 20 km south of Ismailia, which was followed by a series of smaller explosions. The channel said there were injuries as a result of the explosions, and possibly even fatalities, but ruled out that it could have been a terrorist attack. A source knowledgeable in military affairs told Daily News Egypt that the explosion was probably an accident. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed the possibility of a terrorist act because the army secures its weapons in a sophisticated manner. The source added that accidents like this have occurred in the past. The interior ministry had not released a statement on the incident up until press time. Neither had there been an official statement from any military body. However, security officials had confirmed the incident to AP. Witnesses told Reuters that the first explosion could be seen from afar, and that after the explosions the area surrounding the camp had been closed off by armored personnel carriers. Other reports stated that there had been a possible five deaths as a result of the explosion. Additionally, there were at least another 10 injuries. Some attributed as a possible cause for the explosions a current heat wave in the country.
