Student found murdered in Cairo was’ victim of animal-like, inhuman violence’

A student murdered in Egypt suffered “inhuman, animal-like” violence before he died, a minister in his home country of Italy said on Sunday. Giulio Regeni, whose body was found lying beside the road in Cairo last week, was killed in an act of “unacceptable violence”, interior minister Angelino Alfano said in a TV interview. A post-mortem examination, carried out after his body was flown back to Rome on Saturday, found his neck was twisted or struck, breaking a vertebra and leaving him unable to breathe. Prosecutors in Rome believe the 28-year-old was beaten and tortured after he went missing on a night when there was a heavy police presence in the city.

He stood out with his big hopes and dreams, and he was committed to pursuing a career that would allow him to make an impact on the world, which is a poorer place for his passing.

Giulio’s friend, Neil Pyper

Mr Regeni, a PhD student at Cambridge University, was in Cairo to research the formation of independent trade unions in Egypt following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. But he disappeared amid a security crackdown in the city on January 25, the anniversary of the overthrow of the autocrat. Initially, his death was put down to a road accident before investigators in the city admitted he was stabbed repeatedly and burned with cigarettes. Italy’s ambassador in Cairo said he viewed Mr Regeni’s body and it showed torture marks. A vigil is expected to be held for the student in his home town of Fiumicello, north-east Italy, before his funeral on Tuesday.

I took note of the wounds, bruises and burn marks. There is no doubt the young man was heavily beaten and tortured.

Maurizio Massari, Italy’s ambassador in Cairo

giulio regeni