A terrorist cell was discovered on Saturday in al-Mazra’a, south of Arish, an Egyptian security source said, adding that the cell's operations included following security troops in Sinai and coordinating with gunmen who attack security checkpoints.
Members of the cell are being interrogated, the source told the German news agency DPA without giving further details.
The arrest comes one day after millions of Egyptians took to the streets to declare their authorization for the military to counter terrorism.
In other news, a policeman was injured in an attack against Arish police station on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses said gunmen attacked the police station and that an exchange of fire took place between the gunmen and police and military personnel for approximately 15 minutes.
A security source said that police and military personnel exchanged fire with the gunmen but that there were no casualties.
Apache aircraft were seen flying over the area of the attack.