Egyptian police 'are using Grindr to find and arrest LGBT people'

'It baffles me how easily people are willing to share such personal information in a country like Egypt'

Grindr have warned users to be extremely careful (Grindr)

Egyptian police are using Grindr and other dating apps to find and arrest members of the country's LGBT community, reports suggest.

Officers have allegedly utilised the gay dating app to pinpoint the location of people suspected of being LGBT.

According to an unnamed source from the Egyptian LGBT community, police have used the app to get within a "few hundred metres" of their targets, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The source told Egyptian lifestyle magazine, Cairo Scene: "It is possible to tell a user's position within a few hundred metres, and many users include personal pictures, making them easily identifiable to cops.

"It baffles me how easily people are willing to share such personal information in a country like Egypt. It is beyond stupid.

"I would advise anyone to be careful when dating online."

While homosexuality is not illegal in Egypt, authorities have continued to arrest members of the LGBT community under a "debauchery law".

Activists have claimed the vague guidelines set out in the law allow police to arrest and secure convictions of LGBT people.

In April, 11 men were given a total of 101 years in prison for a number of 'debauchery' offences, Gay Egypt reported.

The Independent has contacted Grindr for a comment.