A British traveller in Egypt has been arrested by police for possessing clothes that made him look too like a member of the security forces. In a possible reflection of a wave of distrust of foreigners that is sweeping the country, the man was reported to the authorities for speaking to local people in a cafe. His name has been withheld by both police and the British embassy, but he is said to be of Indian origin and aged 44. The Briton was said by the authorities to have been arrested after they received information that there is a foreigner who goes to coffee shops in Arish and interacts with citizens. A much-mocked public information campaign on television last year warned of the dangers of talking to strangers. It showed friendly Egyptians getting into a conversation with a foreigner, who was then shown sending a text message on his mobile phone. Police found him to have suspect trousers, a black jacket and two pairs of shoes they suspect belong to the central security, according to the prosecution services statement. The man was arrested in Arish in North Sinai, scene of a major military offensive against an Islamist insurgency, some of whose participants claim adherence to al-Qaeda. It is not clear what he was doing there, but it is on the road to the border crossing with Gaza - a route taken by a number of journalists and activists. He also had £5,000 in cash, as well as the offensive clothing. The Central Security Force, whose clothes he is claimed to be imitating, wears black boots, trousers and jackets. A number of other westerners have been arrested in unusual circumstances in recent weeks. Two Canadians who were at the scene of a demonstration by pro-Morsi supporters in Cairo were released last week after nearly two months in custody, in which they said they were beaten and abused. On Sunday, a retired American army officer was found dead in his cell, seven weeks after also being arrested in Sinai for breaching the military-imposed curfew, which is tighter there than in the rest of the country. He was said to have a map and a sophisticated electronic device, later said to be a computer, but seems to have been an amateur historian and one-man peace activist. telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/10378565/British-man-arrested-in-Egypt-for-dressing-like-a-member-of-security-services.html
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:47:28 +0000