Egyptian military officials fear that 10,000 weapons, mostly small arms, have gone missing since the uprisings of Tahrir Square, in January 2011, and their unchecked proliferation could accentuate violence, Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper reported, citing government officials and arms experts.

The newspaper said Major General L. Hamid believes porous borders with Libya, Sudan and Hamas-controlled Gaza have made the situation worse, as profiteers descend on Egypt to capitalize on arms trading. Caches of large arms held by Egypt’s neighbors could also end up within the country, the official was reported as saying.

Other officials cited in the report fear that weapons bought to defend shopkeepers may also end up in revolutionary hands. A local arms dealer cited in the report said that as violence escalated in the past week, the black market prices of small weapons and hand guns have quadrupled.