Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat referred Monday a man to court over charges of “threatening members of consulates and embassies operating in Egypt”, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.
“As a part of the terrorist group’s plan to endanger national security”, the defendant allegedly threatened the diplomats, which reflected “negatively on the country”, the statement claimed.
Security forces arrested the defendant, “following a report by a foreign cultural centre”, the statement added.
No previous reports were made referring to the man’s arrest prior to this statement.
At the beginning of the month the embassies of the UK and Canada closed and issued warnings to their citizens over “security reasons”.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly advised Australians not to travel to the Governorate of North Sinai, including along the Taba-Suez Road. The Department said this was due to the threat of terrorist attacks, in addition to recommending air travel to the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.
Since the 3 July 2013 military-backed ouster of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt has faced a rising militant insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, mainly targeting security officials. Such attacks have prompted a heavy military presence within the peninsula.
The British Embassy in Cairo resumed its services last week, while the Canadian embassy remains closed.
