Security officials told the Egyptian state news agency Mena that Saif al-Adel was detained at Cairo International Airport as he arrived on Wednesday, after flying to Egypt from Pakistan via Dubai…
The BBC’s Jon Leyne in Cairo says the Americans – and it seems the Egyptian authorities – believe Saif al-Adel is the nom-de-guerre of a man whose real name is Mohammed Ibrahim Makkawi.
The man who was arrested in Cairo reportedly told journalists that he was called Mohammed Ibrahim Makkawi, but strongly denied he was Saif al-Adel.
Mr Makkawi is reportedly now a strident critic of al-Qaeda, though he may be wanted for alleged terrorist offences committed inside Egypt a number of years ago.
Update (AP): The AP quotes a U.S. intel source as saying they think they’ve got the wrong guy.
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