Germany warns its delegation about Egyptian spies at COP27

The German Federal Police (BKA) has warned the German delegation at the COP27 environmental summit in Egypt that its members could be subject to surveillance by Egyptian intelligence agencies, Reuters reported, citing sources.

In an email, the BKA, warned delegates of "overt and covert surveillance through photography and videography" by Egyptian agents, a source said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's comments about the human rights situation in Egypt provoked the threat of surveillance, the person said.

Two other German officials confirmed the existence of the warning but declined to elaborate on its specific wording.

In the warning, police said that delegates' conversations could be recorded and people close to the Egyptian state could try to disrupt events organized by Germans "through provocative actions."

Three German COP27 participants from NGOs and industry said they had received verbal warnings from other participants and delegations about possible surveillance.

A German foreign ministry spokesman said he expects participants "be able to work and negotiate under secure conditions." "To this end, we are in continuous exchange with the Egyptian side," the official said on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday, Scholz said he raised with COP27 hosts the issue of imprisoned hunger striker Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent activist and blogger sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news. "A decision needs to be taken, a release has to be made possible, so that it doesn't come to it that the hunger striker dies," Scholz told reporters.

The Egyptian government said prison authorities would provide Abd el-Fattah with medical care.