British teenager arrested for spying in Egypt over photo taken from plane window

Muhammed Abulkasem, 19, is being held in a jail cell without legal representation, his family says

Muhammad Abul-Kasem flew to Egypt from Libya for a holiday and to visit friends (Family handout)

A British teenager has been arrested in Egypt on suspicion of spying after he took a photo out of a plane window, according to his family.

Muhammed Abulkasem, 19, has been in jail since he was detained when he arrived at the airport in Alexandria on a flight from Libya on 21 November.

The A-level student from Cheetham Hill in Manchester was questioned after authorities found a photograph of a military helicopter on his phone.

He has since appeared in court accused of "collecting information of a military facility" and relatives were informed that the evidence was being reviewed before sentencing.

However his family learned on Friday afternoon that the teenager is now being held without any legal representation. They said they had been given no further details of the allegations or how long the case will take to resolve.

“It is shocking,” said Farah Ahmad, who works with the Human Relief Foundation charity and is assisting the family. “He is just a really sweet guy.

“He has gone for a holiday and now has been taken in. We were told it was because he took a photo as the plane was landing.

“It could happen to anyone. He is on his own out there and he has no legal representation.”

The family have set up an online petition calling on Theresa May and foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt to intervene and secure Mr Abulkasem’s release.

They have also appealed for help from local Manchester MP Graham Stringer.

Mr Abulkasem’s mother, Imaan Rafiq, said: “When I close my eyes at night, I can’t think about him. I have to put a blank wall because I cannot imagine him in there, I just want to hold him.

“He always gave me morning hugs, and when he came back [home from school] he gave me hugs. So I always had my two hugs a day.”

The UK Foreign Office confirmed that Mr Abulkasem had been arrested and that staff were providing assistance to the family.

“We are seeking more information from the Egyptian authorities following the arrest of a British person in Alexandria, as well as permission for consular access,” said a spokesperson.

The Egyptian authorities have been contacted for comment.

Mr Abulkasem was born and educated in Manchester and moved to Libya with his family two years ago to support his ill grandmother.

He was travelling to Egypt on a UK passport to visit friends in the country before starting university, his family said, and had booked a hotel ahead of his visit.

A Libyan friend who was travelling with him was also arrested. He too remains in jail.