20100424
inform

Egyptian police arrested an Israeli dirt biker who illegally crossed the border on Saturday, a security official said.

The 36-year-old man, who led police on a chase after he crossed into the Sinai Peninsula, told them he entered Egypt by mistake after he was separated from his fellow bikers.

Last month, Egyptian police detained an Israeli journalist after he tried to cross the border with an African illegal migrant. The Channel 10 reporter was released a week later.

The 250-kilometre (150-mile) frontier has become a significant channel for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers, prompting Israel to ask Egypt to step up controls.

Egyptian police have killed dozens of African migrants in the past few years as they tried to enter Israel.