`` We 've been hearing gunshots left and right all night long , '' one Cairo resident says . The Egyptian government has ordered the army to be on high alert in order to protect public buildings from possible attacks by militants who have taken over parts of northern Sinai. Anchors on state TV tell callers reporting security problems that the army is protecting them . Report : About 1,000 inmates escaped from a prison southwest of Cairo .
`` We 've been hearing gunshots left and right all night long , '' one Cairo resident says . `` People are parading the streets , walking around with baseball bats and knives , '' another man says . Anchors on state TV tell callers reporting security problems that the army is protecting them . Report : About 1,000 inmates escaped from a prison southwest of Cairo .