Canadian embassy in Cairo closed due to security concerns

Canada has decided to shut its embassy in Cairo due to “security concerns”, a day after the UK closed its own diplomatic mission in the Egyptian capital.

It is not clear if Canada’s measure is linked to a video in which a man believed to be a Canadian militant urges attacks against his home country.

The video – released on December 7 – refers to the killing of Canadian soldiers and an attack on parliament in Ottawa.

Canada is part of a coalition fighting Islamic State (ISIS) militants.

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said in a statement on December 7 that Canadians must remain vigilant.

“That is why we are taking part in the coalition that is currently conducting air strikes against ISIL [ISIS], and supporting the security forces in Iraq in their fight against this terrorist scourge,” he said. Countries in the coalition often refer to ISIS or ISIL.

A message posted on the Canadian Cairo embassy website reads: “The ability to provide consular services may occasionally be limited for short periods due to unsettled security conditions.”

No other details have been given to explain the closure.

The British embassy in Cairo was first shut down on December 7 and remains closed amid ongoing fears over security, the Foreign Office says.

In Egypt, militants mainly based in the Sinai peninsula have stepped up attacks on soldiers and police since the military overthrew President Mohamed Morsi last year.

Jihadist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has pledged allegiance to ISIS.

The ISIS video released on Sunday features a Canadian fighter identified as Abu Anwar al-Canadi, according to Site Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online.

Canadian media have identified him as John Maguire, an Islamist convert from near Ottawa. They said he was reportedly under investigation after travelling to Syria to join IS in January 2013.

In the video John Maguire urged Muslims to follow the example of the recent attacks in Canada.