re: #157 Sol Berdinowitz

Heard about the attack on the cables, nothing about who was behind it.

Egypt arrests sub-sea cable ‘saboteurs’

Just a week after submarine telecommunications cable cuts off the coast of Egypt caused major disruptions to broadband services across Africa, Egyptian authorities have arrested three divers suspected of trying to sever the Sea-Me-We 4 cable system that runs through the region.

There are no immediate suggestions, however, that last Friday’s cuts to cable systems such as Seacom and the East Africa Submarine System (Eassy) are related to the latest developments. Seacom CEO Mark Simpson has said he suspects last week’s incident, as with most cable cuts, was caused by a ship dragging its anchor along the sea bed.

Reuters is reporting that Egyptian naval forces detained three divers on a fishing boat 750m off the coast of Alexandria. Authorities suspected they intended to cut Sea-Me-We 4, a crucial, 18 800km-long cable system that links the Far East to the Middle East and Europe.

According to Reuters, no reasons have been furnished for the alleged saboteurs’ motives.