CAIRO, Feb 10: Egyptian authorities barred a British woman from leaving Egypt on Friday because she is on a list of foreigners under investigation over ties to foreign non-profit groups accused of fomenting unrest in the country, an airport official said.

The government’s crackdown on the NGOs has caused one of the most serious rifts between Egypt and its strategic ally, the United States. US officials and legislators have warned it could sever the $1.5 billion in US aid to Egypt, one of the longest and largest in the world.

The airport official said the woman was ordered off a London-bound plane in Cairo, but was not arrested.

There was no immediate comment from the British Embassy.

The woman joins a list of at least 10 foreigners, including six Americans, who have been barred from travelling as part of the criminal investigation.—AP