An Egyptian watch tower is seen close to the construction site of a barrier on the border between Israel and Egypt along Israel's Highway 12, February 15, (Photo: Reuters).
Egypt's North Sinai Security Directorate on Sunday announced that it had uncovered a spy ring operating in the area and had arrested someone from the northern city of Rafah on suspicion of spying for Israel.
According to news reports, Egyptian authorities uncovered a suspected spy ring in Rafah consisting of nine people, four of whom were arrested while the remaining five are still being sought by police.
Members of the alleged spy cell – reportedly from Egypt and Palestine – are suspected of transmitting information on army and police dispositions in North Sinai, the location of checkpoints, and the type of arms being used by security forces.
According to the North Sinai Security Directorate, the arrested individual is currently being interrogated by military intelligence officers.
Egyptian media cited North Sinai "security sources" as saying that the suspect had been arrested following months of surveillance.
The same source said the suspect had confessed to having provided Israeli intelligence with information on Egyptian military dispositions in the area.
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