US Citizen Killed In Egypt Protests

The death of a US citizen in the Egyptian protests that started yesterday has prompted the government to issue a travel advisory warning Americans not to travel to Egypt.

A statement posted on the website of Kenyon College, Ohio identified the victim as 21-year-old student Andrew Pochter, an intern at Amideast, an American non-profit organization working in international education and training in the Middle East and North Africa. (source)

Non-essential diplomatic staff and their families have been told to leave the country as supporters and opponents of the government continue to clash in Cairo and Alexandria.

US citizens remaining in Egypt have been told to ‘remain alert’ and avoid large gatherings.

The BBC reports:

Cairo’s main airport was packed with departing passengers, and all flights leaving for Europe, the US and the Gulf were fully booked, officials were quoted as saying.

The officials – who spoke on condition of anonymity – described the exodus as unprecedented, the Associated Press reports.

On Friday, two people died in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria as protesters stormed an office of the Muslim Brotherhood – the political movement supporting President Morsi. It was one of eight of its offices around the country the Brotherhood said came under attack.

The US national who was killed was apparently using a mobile phone to take pictures at the time.

There are conflicting reports about the way he died. Egyptian officials say the victim – who is believed to have been taking photos of the clashes – was stabbed in the chest, but other reports say he was hit by gun pellets.