Foreign Minister follows up Egyptian murder in Virginia

Cairo - 20 June 2017: Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesman of Foreign Ministry, said in a statement on Tuesday that the ministry is following up on the kidnapping and murder of Egyptian Nabra Hassanen with the Egyptian embassy in Washington.

The incident occurred when an individual made fun of the victim and four of her friends in a fast food restaurant after they performed Tahajud prayer in a mosque in Virginia.

Abu Zeid said the embassy has immediately contacted the victim’s family and the state police to follow up on the investigation. The ministry will continue to follow up until the perpetrator is tried.

The murderer pursued the victim and her friends after they left the restaurant, before hitting the victim with a baseball bat, repeating racial slurs against Muslims and Arabs. He then kidnapped the victim, whose body was found five kilometers away from the scene.

The police have arrested the perpetrator and are investigating the incident. The body of the victim is still in a hospital waiting autopsy, Abu Zeid added.

Hassanen’s murder in North Virginia comes shortly after a terrorist attack targeted Muslims after finishing their late-night prayers at mosque in north London, near Finsbury Park Station, on June 19. At least 10 civilians were hit by a van. One victim died, however it is unclear whether or not the victim died due to the attack.