The security agency in al-Qalyubia governorate has found important information regarding the kidnapping of Abānūb Ashraf from in front of the Saint Paul Church in Shubrā al-Khaymah that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrators within the next few hours.

Investigations have clarified that the accused were as young as 20 years old. Additionally, the car used in the incident was reported as stolen a while ago. According to a security source, the father of the kidnapped boy might know the identity of the accused as well as what pushed them to commit the crime. According to the same source there were disputes between him and a number of people in the area.

The investigative team listened to various testimonies. The large number of eyewitnesses to the incident confirms the events of the kidnapping. The information indicates that the perpetrators had planned to commit the crime after they had learned that the father of the victim was a wealthy businessman. The evidence thus suggests that one of the suspects knew details of the life of the businessman.

The perpetrators have contacted the father of the kidnapped boy and demanded ransom money. General Mahmūd Yusrī, director of security in Qalyubia stressed that the incident was purely criminal rather than sectarian.

Since the Revolution the security forces increasingly face young offenders often without jobs and unregistered with the police. Incidents such as this one are occurring on a more regular basis. The police have appointed the necessary services to follow the security situation in the area. The Free Copts Association has appealed to the police to speed up the arrest of the perpetrators since the incident has left behind a sense of panic among the people (‘Abd al-Hakim al-Jindī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Apr. 2, p.19). Read original text in Arabic.