Algeria says members of terror-support cell arrested near Tunisian border

Four members of a terrorist support cell were arrested on Wednesday in the eastern province of Tebessa, near border with Tunisia, Defense Ministry said on Thursday in a statement.

Early Wednesday, local media reported that security forces managed to foil a potential terrorist attack in the eastern province of Annaba, as a wide search operation is still underway there to track down the four terror-suspects.

The statement also said that a detachment of the National Popular Army discovered and destroyed six handcrafted bombs in Tizi Ouzou province, 110 km eastern Algiers.

Army troops have been conducting a wide scale dragging operation in the northern forests of Tizi Ouzou, where more than 16 terror bunkers containing supplies and explosives were discovered a couple of weeks ago.

The statement added that army troops deployed in Illizi and Djanet localities, near Libyan border, arrested five criminals and retrieved an automatic pistol, a large quantity of ammunition of different calibers, three SUVs, and cell phones.

Algeria has been deploying additional troops along the eastern border line following growing terrorist threats from Tunisia and Libya, as some extremist groups attempt to smuggle arms and militants to the North African nation. Endit