Egyptian Army armored vehicles sit parked at a checkpoint in Cairo, Egypt, August. 16, 2013. The suspects compiled information on the political and economic situation in Egypt as well as details of the army's movements. UPI/Ahmed Jomaa | License Photo

CAIRO, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Egypt said it arrested 17 suspects, including diplomats, who allegedly spied for the United States and Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, officials said.

Seventeen suspects who allegedly belonged to three spy networks were recently captured, Egyptian intelligence sources told the Arabic language Ma'an News Agency Tuesday.


The suspects include foreign diplomatic staff that operated out of their countries' embassies in Cairo, the report said. Some of the suspects are European passport holders of African descent. Some of the information gathered by suspects was sent via diplomatic mail back to their countries.

The suspects compiled information on the political and economic situation in Egypt as well as details of the army's movements, including photographs of military installations and locations where the military is deployed, the sources alleged.

Some of those arrested claimed they were conducting research in the country and denied carrying out espionage, the report said. However, Egyptian authorities alleged phone records of some of the suspects proved otherwise.