Publishing Reports Related To Intelligence, French Journalist Arrested For Being Considered A Danger To Security

A French journalist was arrested and his home searched on Tuesday, after his report two years ago for online media outlet Disclose said French intelligence information was misused by Egypt, the media outlet and the journalist's lawyer said.

Human rights groups condemn the arrest of journalist Ariane Lavrilleux, who wrote a report saying French intelligence information intended to track jihadist militants had been abused by Egypt to target smugglers on the Libyan border and kill civilians.

The publication of the report prompted the French armed forces minister to conduct an investigation.

Lavrillux's lawyer, Virginie Marquet, said his client was being interrogated by a judge and police officer from France's intelligence agency DGSI, as part of an investigation into actions that jeopardize national security.

"This is an unusual procedure," Marquet told Reuters.

"This is a higher act in terms of coercion against journalists," he said.

Meanwhile, DGSI did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Disclose, which previously reported another secret agreement between Paris and Cairo, two years ago published dozens of classified documents it said showed abuse of intelligence given to Egypt.

Egyptian government officials did not respond to requests for comment when the report was published.

The documents include messages claimed from those involved warning their superiors that their information was misused to 'bomb' civilians.

"We are very worried," Katia Roux of Amnesty France said.

"Detaining a journalist for doing his job, especially because revealing information related to the public interest, can pose a threat to press freedom and the confidentiality of resource persons," he explained.

It is known that Reporters Without Borders and other rights groups also issued a statement condemning the arrest.