Israeli security services arrested a British national today after they found "trace elements" of explosive material in the trunk of her car, which bore Canadian embassy plates, at a crossing point into the Gaza Strip, Canadian and Israeli sources said.
"Our understanding is that at approximately three o'clock this afternoon, Tel Aviv time, a British passport holder working under contract with the Canada Fund office in Ramallah, which manages small aid projects for the Canadian International Development Agency, was detained at the Gaza Strip while exiting the Erez crossing," said Mr Reynald Doiron, a spokesman for Department of Foreign Affairs speaking by phone from Ottawa.
An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the arrest.
"According to Israeli authorities, there were 'trace elements' of explosive material in the trunk of her car," he said, adding "this official was conducting official business in Gaza and was operating a vehicle with Canadian diplomatic plates."
An earlier report on public radio here said a car belonging to the Canadian embassy was found to contain traces of explosive material. The British woman passenger and the car driver were arrested at the Erez crossing, it said. A spokeswoman for the Canadian embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed the car was owned by her country's diplomatic representation in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"The embassy is in contact with Israeli and British authorities given that the individual has a British passport. We are following this matter closely," said Mr Doiron, reading from an official statement.
He declined to say whether they would have any further information on the matter later today. Israeli security sources said the traces found in the car could mean the vehicle had been used in the past to carry arms or explosives.