The American student who was killed in Egypt on Friday during street protests in Alexandria was an idealist, an Arabist and a linguist, drawn to the Middle East despite — or perhaps even because of — its political unrest, friends said.

The American, Andrew Pochter, 21, a student at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, was exuberant when he departed for Egypt on May 28 for a three-month visit, said a friend, Zoe Lyon. The prospect of being in a country riven by political and religious conflict seemed to hold no fears for him, Ms. Lyon said. Like many other young people drawn to the world’s problems, she said, “he knew there was a possibility of trouble, but never thought that he could get caught up in it.”

“I am not shocked he was at a protest,” she said.

Egyptian security officials said Saturday that Mr. Pochter was stabbed in the chest, near his heart, late Friday during clashes between supporters and opponents of the country’s president, Mohamed Morsi. He was taken to a nearby military hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

On Saturday, Egyptian prosecutors ordered the arrest of suspects in the killing, but gave no information on the number of suspects or their identities. The prosecutor also ordered Mr. Pochter’s body to be handed over to American officials.