Egypt remands Israeli detainee for 15 days
Cairo Prosecution to keep Andre Pshenichnikov in custody pending further investigation
An Egyptian court remanded Israeli national Andre Pshenichnikov for an additional 15 days, Tuesday.
According to Egyptian media, the prosecution intends to press espionage charges against Pshenichnikov, a radical left-wing activist who has been in custody since Friday after illegal crossing into Egypt via Sinai.
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An Egyptian official privy to the case said authorities have yet to substantiate their suspicions.
According to Egyptian officials Pshenichnikov is under investigation in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh for allegedly trying to reach the Gaza Strip through Sinai. They have identified him as Andrew Yaacoub Cheteko.
The Eyptian daily al-Masri al-Youm reported that the Egyptian authorities were in search of a woman who may have been Pshenichnikov's accomplice when he crossed over into the country last week.
According to al-Jazeera, Pshenichnikov told his investigators that he wanted to "join militants in Gaza." Authorities believe he took photos of security facilities in the area.
Pshenichnikov, a Jewish immigrant from Tajikistan, made headlines last year when he announced he wanted to move to a West Bank refugee camp in solidarity with Palestinians there.
The security officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
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