According to three sources with knowledge of the situation, the German federal police have informed their country’s delegation to the COP27 environmental summit in Egypt that its participants may be susceptible to Egyptian security agents eavesdropping on them.

One of the people citing from the email claimed that the police, known in Germany as the BKA, warned delegates of “overt and covert surveillance by photography and videography” by Egyptian operatives.

Comments last week by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about Egypt’s human rights record provoked the threat of surveillance, that person said.

Reuters did not view the email sent by the police. Two other officials in Germany confirmed the existence of the warning, though they declined to elaborate on its specific wording.

There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Egypt’s COP27 presidency or the state information service, which handles relations with foreign media.

Comments last week by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about Egypt’s human rights record provoked the threat of surveillance, that person said.

Reuters did not view the email sent by the police. Two other officials in Germany confirmed the existence of the warning, though they declined to elaborate on its specific wording.

There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Egypt’s COP27 presidency or the state information service, which handles relations with foreign media.