Canada Joins UK in Closing Cairo Embassy to Public over Security

Local Editor

Canada on Monday joined Britain in closing its embassy in Cairo to the public for security reasons, with neither country providing details about any specific threat.

The move comes amid increasing attacks by militants in Egypt and calls from the extremist "ISIL" group for attacks on Western targets.

The Canadian embassy said in a statement that it would be closed "due to security reasons" on Monday, with a separate email to Canadian citizens in Egypt saying this would be the case "until further notice".

The British embassy also remained closed after shutting its public services on Sunday.

British Ambassador John Casson said the decision had been taken "to ensure the security of the embassy and our staff".

"We are working to restore full services as quickly as possible," he said.

Both countries have previously issued warnings to their citizens against travel to restive areas of Egypt including parts of the Sinai Peninsula, where the so-called "Ansar Beit al-Maqdis" militant group has pledged allegiance to the "ISIL".

The embassy of the United States in Cairo remained open on Monday.
Most attacks have been in the Sinai Peninsula, but several deadly blasts have also been set off in Cairo and other cities.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team