An Egyptian-born stowaway found on a cargo ship in Italy had a Canadian passport among a list of suspicious documents. The RCMP is offering to help in the investigation.

Italian police arrested Rigk Amid Farid, 43, last weekend on international terrorism charges after discovering him in a container at the port of Gioia Tauro. The container was apparently en route from Port Said, Egypt to Toronto.

In the apartment-like setting with food and water inside the container police found a Canadian passport, a computer, cameras and cellular phones, international airport security documents and a document saying he is an airline mechanic.

Italian prosecutor Roberto Di Palma said Farid had things that no ordinary illegal migrant could afford. He has been charged under an Italian anti-terrorism law approved last week.

Italian investigators and prosecutors speaking at a news conference in the southern Calabrian city of Palmi described the case as puzzling. They are interested in what Farid was doing and where he was going.

Farid had airport security passes for Canada, Egypt and Thailand. He also had a return airline ticket for Montreal.

John Manley

RCMP, FBI alerted to suspect

Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley said he knew of no plot to use Canada as a terrorist staging area, as some reports have suggested.

"We have no information to that effect at the present time. Obviously, because he had a Canadian document with him it's of great interest to us," Manley said outside the Commons.

Manley, who heads the cabinet committee on terrorism and security, said Canadian officials are in contact with Italian authorities. An Interpol official told The Associated Press that the suspect's name wasn't on any "wanted" list.

"The RCMP is offering any assistance required to the Italian police," said Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay.

Investigators in Italy declined to describe the ship container's itinerary or how someone would have been able to survive inside it.

Farid's lawyer, Michele Filippo Italiano, said he was unable to learn what was seized from his client because all the items were sealed.

Italiano said the case was a big misunderstanding. He said Farid lives in Montreal and has Canadian citizenship.

Italiano told CBC Radio that Farid left Egypt because of family problems. "I don't think he's a terrorist. This is the impression I have myself," said Italiano. "He had personal problems in Egypt that made him flee that country."