The arrest of an Irishman in the West Bank was a "mistake", Israeli radio has reported. The station quoted officials saying that there were "increasing doubts" that the man who was arrested near Ramallah was the person Israeli police had intended to detain. Sean O Muireagain, 40, from west Belfast, was arrested on Saturday by Israeli security forces reportedly acting on information from UK security services. There have been calls for his release amid claims he is an Irish language journalist and promoting a cultural exchange project. On Tuesday night, O Muireagain's friends and family took to the streets of west Belfast calling for him to be freed. The radio station, the Voice of Israel external service in Jerusalem, reported earlier on Tuesday that this could be a "case of mistaken identity". The station said government officials had confirmed a mistake was made, but there has been no official announcement. **Consular access*** His family and friends said the allegations against him were a complete fabrication. The British Embassy said it had not been able to officially identify who was detained by the Israelis. The Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday that they were aware of the detention of a British national. A request for consular access by the Foreign Office was denied on Monday, however a fresh request was being made. The editor of a daily Irish language newspaper said O Muireagain was working as its correspondent, whilst a Palestinian support group said he was one of its members. The detained man's parents, John and Teresa Morgan, have said they were shocked by the arrest of their son, who is known to them as John. His mother said she just wanted him home. "It's only a matter of the Israelis putting their hands up and saying: 'We've got the wrong man, we're letting him go home,'" she said. "But it seems that they are not very fond of doing this." His father said his son was in the country on a cultural visit to forge exchange links with schools. On Tuesday, Conor Kennedy of the Ireland Palestinian Group said they were still waiting for more information. On Monday, Pilib Mistéil, the principal of west Belfast Irish language school Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh, called for O Muireagain to be released, saying he was the chairman of its board of governors. He said: "We had agreed to task him with linking our school with a primary school in Jenin." Ciaran O Pronntaigh of the Belfast Irish language paper, L?, said the allegations made against the man were "rubbish". "He is a well-known Irish language and Palestine Solidarity Committee activist in Belfast and was reporting from Jenin for L? and Raidio na Gaeltachta," he said. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign said the man was in the West Bank on a cultural exchange project, had last heard from him on Saturday and was worried for his safety. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Sean O Muireagain is being detained by Israeli security forces, BBC