Europe

Italy doubts Egypt's claim that gang linked to student death

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this photo released by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior on Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016, a university identification card belonging to slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni is displayed. Egypt's Interior Ministry said Thursday it has killed members of a gang suspected of being linked to the killing of an Italian student whose torture and death sparked an international outcry over possible involvement of Egyptian police in his brutal killing. The ministry said that police raided one of the men's houses and found the personal belongings of Regeni, including his red handbag bearing the picture of the Italian flag, his passport and other identification cards, including one belonging to Cambridge University, in addition to his cellphones. (Egyptian Interior Ministry via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior on Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016, a university identification card belonging to slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni is displayed. Egypt's Interior Ministry said Thursday it has killed members of a gang suspected of being linked to the killing of an Italian student whose torture and death sparked an international outcry over possible involvement of Egyptian police in his brutal killing. The ministry said that police raided one of the men's houses and found the personal belongings of Regeni, including his red handbag bearing the picture of the Italian flag, his passport and other identification cards, including one belonging to Cambridge University, in addition to his cellphones. (Egyptian Interior Ministry via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior on Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016, personal belongings of slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, including his passport, are displayed. Egypt's Interior Ministry said Thursday it has killed members of a gang suspected of being linked to the killing of Regeni, whose torture and death sparked an international outcry over possible involvement of Egyptian police in his brutal killing. The ministry said that police raided one of the men's houses and found the personal belongings of Regeni, including his red handbag bearing the picture of the Italian flag, his passport and other identification cards, including one belonging to Cambridge University, in addition to his cellphones. (Egyptian Interior Ministry via AP) (The Associated Press)

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.