Egypt ‘following closely’ death of Egyptian citizen in UK

Egypt’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday its consulate in London was “following around the clock” the death of an Egyptian citizen in the UK.

In an official statement, spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that the consulate was notified by the patron of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London that the body of 21-year-old Egyptian Sherif Adel Habib’s was found inside a car that was set ablaze in a garage fire in South Hall.

Abu Zeid said the general counsel immediately contacted Habib’s father and headed to the hospital where Habib was admitted and where he died upon arrival.

The spokesman added that the general counsel in London ambassador Alaa Youssef was currently following up on investigations conducted by British police into the accident, as well as providing the necessary assistance to Habib’s family.

Earlier, the spokesman of the UK metropolitan police told state owned MENA agency that police were currently investigating the “deadly fire” and the circumstances behind it.

The spokesman added that Habib was rescued from a garage blaze in Cranleigh Gardens, Southall, during the early hours of Monday and was taken to a specialist burns hospital in Essex, where he died.

According to British media reports, a man in his 20s was arrested on Monday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He has been given bail till mid-June pending further enquiries, the reports added.\

source: Ahram Online