Investigations into the escape attempt of Adel Habbara, the suspect in the second Rafah Massacre that claimed the lives of 25 soldiers from the Central Security forces, found faults in the securing of the deportation van that transported him from the Police Academy to Tora prison after his trial session on 28 June, as the police officer in charge told his aides not to handcuff Habbara.
Investigators claim the officer did not take an armed car that was supposed to drive behind the deportation van and secure it, which prosecution says implicates him in the escape attempt.
The deportees had started to scream in the van, forcing the driver to stop. And while the security personnel went to check on them, they tried to smash the door to open, but the situation was controlled.
Ministry media spokesman Abdel Fattah Othman denied that Habbara jumped from the van and was chased on the road. “He never left the van,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim ordered the urgent completion of investigations and gave instructions to tightly secure all deportation vans.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
