OTTAWA -- A Canadian student has been arrested by Egyptian authorities for allegedly being involved in a terror attack in the Sinai peninsula, according to an Israeli newspaper.

The Times of Israel reported that David Edward was carrying Egyptian identification that did not belong to him at the time of his arrest Wednesday. Egyptian authorities alleged Edward was photographing armoured personnel vehicles.

Sixteen Egyptian guards were killed in the terror attack and Egyptian aircraft retaliated by hitting targets along its border with Israel and Gaza.

Foreign Affairs would not confirm Edward's arrest, but issued a generic statement.

"Canadian officials in Cairo are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information regarding reports that a Canadian citizen has been detained in Egypt," a spokesman wrote in an e-mail. "Consular assistance is available."