Egyptian authorities are holding an American on suspicion of having terror ties, and a security official says the man is from Ohio.

The American was arrested late last month along with eleven Europeans and an unknown number of Egyptians and Arabs from other countries who were accused of belonging to an Islamist terror cell plotting attacks.

The Egyptian security official identifies the American as Grey Warren from Ohio, and says he came to Egypt earlier this year to study at an Islamic university.

The U-S State Department won t confirm whether the name is correct, because of privacy laws. A spokesman says the department expects the Egyptians to release the man.