The IDF intercepted a large bomb that was being moved from Egypt to Israel last week, it announced Monday. The explosive is the second seized by security forces in the in the area in recent days.

"A regular patrol aimed at preventing smuggling efforts... identified the smugglers," the IDF Spokesman´s Unit said. Suspects managed to evade capture and returned to Egyptian territory.

Soldiers dispatched an army bomb disposal unit to the scene, which detonated the device from a distance.

"The Israel-Egypt border has recently turned into an area that is filled with activities of terrorist elements from the Gaza Strip and Sinai," IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai said in recent days. He said increased ground patrols have been introduced to thwart terrorism plots aimed at striking Israeli civilian population centers.

Last week, the IDF and Israel Police intercepted a powerful terrorist bomb on the Israeli-Egyptian border, and said the device could have been used to carry out a mass-casualty attack against a southern community.

The device was found on the Israeli side of the border near the Philadelphi Corridor by security forces who were carrying out anti- smuggling operations at night.

A man who was spotted carrying a bag threw down the item and fled back into Egypt, escaping capture.

"These incidents prove that smuggling routes... are exploited all the time by terrorist groups in order to carry out attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF forces," the army added. "The alertness of soldiers and their successful acts prevented a terrorist attack," it said. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 02/27/12)