The British Embassy in Cairo announced on Sunday it was closing its main building after Egyptian authorities removed security barriers from outside the premises, in a move seen as a direct response to an incident at the Egyptian embassy in London.

“The Egyptian authorities removed the security barriers outside the British Embassy in Cairo on Sunday, 31 August. The main embassy building will be closed until the impact of these changes can be reviewed,” the embassy said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The embassy added that “emergency consular assistance remains available” and advised people to check its travel advice.

The move follows the arrest last week of an Egyptian activist, Ahmed Abdel Qader, who confronted individuals attempting to storm the Egyptian embassy in London. Abdel Qader was later released by British authorities.

Prior to his release, the incident had prompted a strong diplomatic response from Cairo. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had called British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell to demand a swift clarification of the arrest and called for Abdel Qader’s release.

Abdel-Aty had previously stated that Egypt has the “right to respond and reciprocity” against countries that “failed to provide protection for Egyptian embassies in accordance with the Vienna Convention,” following attacks on the Egyptian embassy in London.

The activist’s arrest also drew condemnation within Egypt. The National Front Party issued a statement calling it a “blatant assault on human rights” and urged the British government to issue a formal apology and increase protection for the Egyptian embassy. The party also called for the establishment of a “new principle in international relations: we will not protect those who do not protect us.”