Updated

Italian politicians and state media are questioning Egypt's claims that a gang specializing in abducting foreigners was linked to the torture and death of an Italian student, amid speculation that Egyptian police themselves were involved in the killing.

Former Premier Enrico Letta tweeted Friday: "I'm sorry, I don't buy it."

Egypt's Interior Ministry said Thursday that police found ID cards and other personal belongings of Giulio Regeni in a house connected to a gang that specializes in abducting foreigners while posing as policemen.

There was no official Italian response. The head of the lower parliament chamber's human rights committee, Pia Locatelli, said the scenario was questionable given Regeni was tortured and held for days before being killed and that no ordinary criminal would hold onto such compromising evidence.