Source inside Egypt’s forensics authority claims student who was found dead in Cairo last week had broken ribs and traumatic injuries all over his body

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The Italian student who was tortured and found dead in Cairo last week had seven broken ribs, signs of electrocution on his penis and a brain haemorrhage, according to a senior source inside Egypt’s forensics authority.

The authority on Saturday handed the prosecutor general’s office its final autopsy report on the Italian student who was tortured and found dead in Cairo last week.

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Giulio Regeni, 28, had been researching independent trade unions in Egypt and had written articles critical of president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government - prompting speculation that he was killed at the hands of Egypt’s security forces.

Egypt’s interior and foreign ministers both dismissed the notion of security forces being behind Regeni’s murder.

The prosecutor general’s office said it would not publicly disclose the contents of the report as the investigation was ongoing.

However, a senior source at the forensics authority told Reuters that Regeni, a graduate student at Cambridge University, had seven broken ribs, signs of electrocution on his penis, traumatic injuries all over his body, and a brain haemorrhage.

His body also bore signs of cuts from a sharp instrument suspected to be a razor, abrasions, and bruises. He was likely assaulted using a stick as well as being punched and kicked, the source added.

A second autopsy in Italy “confronted us with something inhuman, something animal“, Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told Sky News 24 television last week.

Egypt’s initial autopsy report showed Regeni had been hit on the back of the head with a sharp instrument.

Rights groups say police often detain Egyptians on scant evidence and that they are beaten or coerced. Scores have disappeared since 2013, the groups say. Egypt denies allegations of police brutality.

Regeni was given a funeral in his hometown on Friday and Italy’s prime minister once again insisted that those responsible be caught and punished.

Italy has sent investigators to work with Egyptian authorities in an effort to establish what happened to Regeni.