4 detained in connection with murder of Italian student in Egypt

Egyptian prosecutors have ordered the detention of 4 people in connection with the murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni.

The 4 are relatives of an alleged criminal gang which officials suspect killed the 28-year-old student.

The gang leader’s wife, brother, sister and brother-in-law are being held for concealing a criminal and hiding stolen goods.

The group is said to be specialised in abducting foreigners while posing as policemen.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry on Thursday said the gang, whose four members were all killed in a police shoot out had Regeni’s bag and passport.

But Italian officials and Regeni’s family have disputed the claim describing it as an outrageous set up.

The 28-year-old Italian, a student at Cambridge University, was in Egypt conducting a research on the country’s trade unions for his thesis.

He disappeared in Cairo on January 25 and his body was found on February 3.

Reuters