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Egyptian court orders release of Georgetown student, 2 others
(AP, WJLA) - Egyptian officials say a court has ordered the release of three American students arrested this week during the unrest in Cairo.
The three, arrested Sunday, are Derrik Sweeney, a 19-year-old Georgetown University student, Luke Gates, a 21-year-old Indiana University student, and Gregory Porter, a 19-year-old Drexel University student.
"It was confirmed, officially," Joy Sweeney, Derrik's mother, said. "The attorney general is not going to appeal."
In a series of tweets, Derrik's sister, Nicole, says that her brother and the other two students finally were fed and were allowed accept visitors from the American University in Cairo.
"Our entire Georgetown community is deeply grateful to all those whose prompt attention and work led to their release," Georgetown President John J. DeGioia said in a statement.
On Thursday morning, Joy Sweeney, Derrik's mother, told the Associated Press that the counsel general confirmed early Thursday morning that her son would be released.
In a statement, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that they appreciated the "expeditious consideration of this case by the Egyptian authorities."
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Derrik Sweeney third American student arrested in Cairo
Derrik Sweeney, a Georgetown University student, has been identified as the third American student from the American University in Cairo who was arrested and paraded on state television Tuesday.
Derrik Sweeney, as shown on state TV. (Image via YouTube)The other two students areGregory Porter and Luke Gates, according to Morgan Roth, a spokeswoman for the university. They are accused of setting off molotov cocktails and clashing with police in Tahrir Square, where anti-government protesters are gathering in response to calls for a “million-man march.”
Sweeney’s father told the Post his son was “caught up in the hype” of Egypt protests. “I suspect that being with a bunch of Egyptian students he probably got caught up in something. Who knows?”
Sweeney was an intern for Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) from February to May 2011. The congressman's spokesman, Paul Sloca, said Sweeney answered phones and attended meetings, did “intern stuff.” “He was a good intern,” Sloca said.
Georgetown University spokeswoman Stacy Kerr says university officials are in contact with the American University in Cairo, the U.S. State Department and embassy officials.
According to his Facebook profile, Sweeney studies psychology at Georgetown.
On Twitter, Sweeney was identified as being from Los Angeles and majoring in Arabic. A Twitter user Reem Morsy posted this photo of Derrik Sweeney in Cairo a month ago:
By | 10:26 AM ET, 11/22/2011
Posted at 10:27 AM ET, 11/22/2011
Luke Gates, American student arrested in Cairo, wrote on Twitter of wanting to die in Egypt
Luke Gates, of the three American students from the American University in Cairo who was arrested and paraded on state television Tuesday, wrote often on his Twitter account of his experiences in Tahrir Square and of wanting to die in the country. Gates is a student at Indiana University on the semester abroad program in Cairo.
(Image via Twitter) Two days ago, Gates wrote on Twitter that he threw rocks in the square, and Monday he wrote that a part of his ear was missing after being in the square with rubber bullets.
“I just don’t want to feel anymore,” he wrote Saturday, just before heading to the square.
Along with Drexel University student Gregory Porter and Georgetown University student Derrik Sweeney, Gates is accused of setting off molotov cocktails and clashing with police in the square. American University in Cairo President Lisa Anderson said the university is working closely with the U.S. embassy to get the young men released.
Gates updated his current city of residence to Cairo on Aug. 31, according to his Facebook profile.
Read the tweets below:
By | 10:27 AM ET, 11/22/2011
US student arrested in Tahrir Square not being held in prison, sister says
Derrik Sweeney one of three American students accused of throwing molotov cocktails at Egyptian security forces
The sister of one of three US students arrested in Cairo and shown on state television said he was being held in an Egyptian courthouse, which she hoped was a good sign.
Nicole Sweeney told the Guardian that her parents knew very little, but had been told that 19-year-old Derrik Sweeney, who was arrested on Monday, was not being detained in prison.
Derrik, a Georgetown University student, is one of three US students who have been accused of throwing petrol bombs at security forces in Tahrir Square.
In an email, his sister said: "The response from the State Department has largely been one of 'We'll let you know when we know more', but the only contact has been that initiated by my parents."
"They do know that he's being detained at a courthouse, rather than a prison, which we assume is a good thing."
His family voiced their concern for their son's safe return. In a statement issued to the Georgetown Voice, they thanked the "Georgetown University community" for their help, and said: "Seeing the outpouring of love and concern from his friends at a school he cherishes has been valuable moral support for us. We are hopeful that Derrik will very soon be able to thank you himself."
They added: ""At present, we know very little about the situation, though we are in contact with the State Department."
Derrik's father, Kevin, from Jefferson City, Missouri, said his son was a "huge believer in American freedom". He said he had hoped his son's youth would stand him in good stead.
"I'm hoping the fact that he's 19 years old will be a mitigating factor, and hopefully they put him on a plane home," Kevin Sweeney said.
"I suspect what happened is … their government probably isn't absolutely free," he told the Washington Post. "I suspect it's a military government … and I suspect that being with a bunch of Egyptian students, he probably got caught up in something. Who knows?"
"I suppose thoughts of the American revolution were things that probably crossed his mind. He's a huge follower of US constitutional history and the Revolutionary war."
Asked about the molotov cocktail accusation, he said: "I have no idea."
Derrick, who is studying Arabic in the hope it would help a career in law and the military, worked on Barack Obama's election campaign in 2008, but switched allegiances and interned this year with Republican congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer in Washington.
Luetkemeyer's spokesman, Paul Sloca, said he had also been in contact with the State Department and was trying to find out more.
"Our primary concern is that he is safe and being treated fairly," Sloca said.
Sloco said Sweeney came highly recommended and was "very outgoing: a good intern."
The US embassy in Cairo is investigating the detention of Sweeney and two other students at the American University of Cairo: Luke Gates, 21, of Bloomington, Indiana, and Greg Porter, 19, of Glenside, Pennyslyvania.
The three were arrested during clashes outside the interior ministry on Monday, authorities said.
Adel Saeed, a spokesman for the Egyptian general prosecutor's office, told CNN: "The three boys were throwing molotov cocktails, and had no passports on them when they were picked up. They have been questioned by the police and will be further investigated by the Cairo prosecutor."
Egyptian state television showed footage of them standing against a wall, with pictures of their driving licences and ID cards spread out next to what it said were petrol bombs.
Further footage, allegedly taken in Tahrir Square, showed demonstrators – at least one of whom was wearing a mask – with caucasian features, including a young man with blond hair.
A spokesman for the State Department said that no-one from the US embassy had yet met with the students. He said: "Our embassy has been in contact with the Egyptian authorities throughout the day. We have requested consular access and we expect to have it tomorrow."
When asked if they had been charged he replied: "To my knowledge they have only been detained."
A Twitter account that appears to be from Gates – @lhgates – speaks of his experiences in Cairo and of "wanting to die" in Egypt.
On Monday, Gates wrote: "I think I am missing part of my ear" and, a day earlier, told of injuries to his knee and elbow. He wrote: "Back to Tahrir tonight as police set fires to everything, no doubt they will blame it on protesters."
Three days ago he wrote of "feeling reckless" and "honestly, hopefully I die here". Another read: "I just don't want to feel anymore" and one which said: "saw them hanging from the bridge, realise death is the only thing that's immortal."
On what appears to be his Facebook account, Gates changed the current city of residence to Cairo on 31 August this year.
A spokesman for the University of Indiana, where Luke Gates was double majoring in political science and near eastern languages and cultures, said that they had been in contact with his parents. The spokesman, Ryan Piurek, said: "The American University of Cairo and the US embassy are reaching out to him to provide him with any legal assistance he needs."
At Drexel University, where Porter is a student, a spokesman said: "Drexel administrators are in contact with Porter's parents and are working with authorities at the American University in Cairo and the US embassy to have Porter released and returned home safely."
Egypt's generals have claimed foreign intervention is behind some of the violence in Cairo. Foreign media has experienced difficulties attempting to work in Egypt.
Since the Egyptian revolution began at the start of the year, thousands of foreign activists have flocked to Cairo in solidarity with the aims of the Arab spring.
Occupy Wall Street and other Occupy movements, including in the UK, have issued statements of solidarity with Tahrir Square protesters. At a general assembly, Occupy Wall Street voted to send 20 election observers to Egypt at a cost of $29,000 (£18,000).
The arrest of the three students was announced as Egyptians began flowing to Tahrir Square for a fourth day of protests, despite a crackdown by police in which at least 29 people have been killed.
Activists hope to increase the number of protesters in the square, which was the centre of the revolt that ousted Hosni Mubarak in mid-February.
The violence continued, with security forces – backed by military troops – firing volleys of teargas and rubber bullets to block protesters, who responded by hurling stones and firebombs. The two sides have been engaged in intense clashes since the unrest began on Saturday.
State TV reported that three people were killed in the Suez canal city of Ismailia, east of Cairo, overnight.
Hundreds of protesters arrived early on Tuesday to join several thousand who have been camping on Tahrir Square. The crowds hoisted a giant Egyptian flag and chanted slogans demanding that the generals immediately step down in favour of a civilian presidential council.
One man held a sign reading "Ministry of Thuggery" with photos of Mubarak, Hussein Tantawi, the senior military ruler, the prime minister, Essam Sharaf and others.
A few hundred young men nearby chanted "Say it, don't fear, the council must go" and "The people want to execute the field marshal."
On Monday, the civilian cabinet of Sharaf submitted its resignation to the military council, a move that had been widely expected given the government's perceived inefficiency and its almost complete subordination to the generals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KedKHVc2PeU&feature=player_embedded
Three US students arrested in Cairo protests
Protesters in Cairo Tahrir Square are worried the military may try to cling to power in EgyptThree US students have been arrested, accused of throwing petrol bombs at security forces during protests in the Egyptian capital's Tahrir Square.
The trio, studying at the American University in Cairo, have been named as Derrik Sweeney and Gregory Porter, both 19 years old, and Luke Gates, 21.
They were questioned earlier on Tuesday, university spokeswoman Morgan Roth told the BBC.
US embassy officials in Cairo told the BBC they are involved with the case.
The students, whose photos have been shown on Egyptian national TV, have been in Egypt on a study-abroad programme.
Dozens of people have died during four days of protests in Cairo, as demonstrators demand the military yield power to a democratically elected leadership.
An official from the Egyptian interior ministry told the Associated Press that when arrested the students had been on the roof of a university building overlooking Tahrir Square, throwing firebombs at police.
According to Ms Roth, the American University in Cairo spokeswoman, the three have been held by Egyptian authorities since the arrest.
A university counsellor, as well as two US embassy officials were present at the trio's questioning, Ms Roth said.
Joy Sweeney, Mr Sweeney's mother, described her son as an idealist who has been caught up in the protests.
She and Mr Gates father, Bill Gates have been contact with the US embassy, but have little information on their sons.
"I don't think anybody really knows what to expect," Mr Gates said.
'Change-the-world'
Joy Sweeney said her son had found himself in the middle of dramatic events.
"He got caught up in the whole college-change-the-world mentality, and he believes in democracy strongly," she told the Associated Press news agency.
Mrs Sweeney said, however, that her son is not a violent person, and that he often serves as the family peacemaker.
"I don't believe that he would intentionally throw a bomb at anyone," she said. "I don't believe that."
A student at Georgetown University in Washington DC, Mr Sweeney had interned earlier in 2011 with Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Missouri.
Mr Sweeney told his mother he attended previous protests in Cairo but stopped after people were killed in one demonstration.
Mr Sweeney is from Jefferson City, Missouri; Mr Gates, of Bloomington, Indiana, studies at Indiana University; and Mr Porter, from Glenside, Pennsylvania, attends Drexel University.
Mr Porter graduated from high school in 2010. A spokesman for the school said he was a "really good kid" who came seventh in a national debate competition in 2009.
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