CAIRO, June 13 (UPI) -- An alleged Mossad agent arrested in Egypt is a U.S. citizen who served with the Israeli military, officials said.
Ilan Grapel, originally from New York, was arrested Sunday and ordered held for 15 days on suspicion of spying on Egypt with the aim of harming its economic and political interests, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.
Egyptian Judge Hesham Badawi said Grapel worked for the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency.
A source told the Post Grapel had been active in Cairo's Tahir Square, which was at the center of the revolt that led to the ouster of former leader Hosni Mubarak.
"He was there on a daily basis inciting youths towards sectarian strife. He was distributing money to some of them," the source said.
The source told the Post Grapel had encouraged some youths to clash with the army.
Grapel, as a member of the Israeli military, was wounded fighting against Hezbollah guerrillas in the southern Lebanese town of Taibe in August 2006.
