Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s wife, Suzanne, was moved to an intensive care unit after suffering a heart attack yesterday, hours after being ordered detained in a corruption probe, state TV said.

Mohammed Fathallah, who heads Sharm el-Sheikh hospital, said in a statement handed to reporters that Mrs Mubarak had suffered a “suspected heart attack and a sharp increase in blood pressure ... She will be kept under observation.”

The news came hours after the Illicit Gains Authority ordered Suzanne Mubarak’s detention for 15 days on charges of illegal acquisition of wealth and as preparations were underway to move her to prison outside Cairo.

Preparations were underway to move her from Sharm el-Sheikh hospital, where she was staying with her husband, to Qanater women’s prison, Mohamed al-Khatib, head of south Sinai security, earlier told state news agency Mena.

She will be taken to Cairo by plane “due to the danger of transporting her by road,” he said.

It was the first detention order for Mrs Mubarak, who along with her husband had been questioned on Thursday night by the illicit gains department. The former first couple are accused of having abused their position for the illegal acquisition of wealth.

Crowds of people in Tahrir Square broke out into cheers and women ululated on hearing the news of her detention.

The half-Welsh former First Lady was seen as the driving force behind plans to have her son Gamal take over the presidency from his father, a highly unpopular prospect in Egypt.

Yesterday, the authority also ordered a further 15-day detention of Mr Mubarak after the three-hour interrogation.