CAIRO: Masked men set fire to two cars belonging to the consulate of Saudi Arabia in the Egyptian city of Suez on on Friday morning, local security sources and the state news agency reported.

Security sources said at least four men threw crude fire bombs at the vehicles. State news agency MENA said the cars were parked in a lot in Suez’s Arbaeen district.

Saudi Arabia has been a strong backer of Egypt since then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled former president Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood last year. The attack appeared to be the first on Saudi property or personnel in Egypt since then.

Major General Tareq al-Gazar, director of security in the city, said authorities were working to identify the attackers.

The Saudi embassy in Cairo declined to comment.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2014