Egypt arrests man accused of spying for Israel

Egyptian state authorities have arrested a man they accused of spying for Israel, Egyptian media reported on Saturday.

The man is a local, believed by the Egyptians to be working for the Mossad since 2011, Ahram Online reported.

The state prosecution ordered his detention for 15 days pending trial, alleging he possessed “spying devices.”

According to the report, in 2012, the man filed a complaint with Egyptian intelligence claiming that Israel was attempting to recruit him as a spy — a move the prosecution believes was made to hide his espionage involvement.

Official news agency MENA reported that Egyptian investigators believed he had passed “important information about Egypt to Israel.”

Egyptian intelligence reportedly tracked the man for two years, and his movements allegedly included meetings in numerous countries with suspected Mossad agents, Ynet reported Saturday.

In June 2011, Egypt convicted dual American-Israel citizen Ilan Grapel of spying, freeing him several months later as part of an exchange deal with Israel for 25 Egyptian prisoners.