Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Edited by Nelly T.
Earlier this week Seif al-Din Mustafa hijacked an EgyptAir plane departing from Alexandria and forced it to fly to Cyprus, Egypt is now requesting that the accused, who is still in Cyprus, be placed in their custody. Egypt’s chief prosecutor released a statement on Wednesday explaining that the request is based on a 1996 extradition treaty between Egypt and Cyprus.
Earlier that same day, Cypriot prosecutors had ordered Mustafa to be detained for a preliminary eight days awaiting inquiries, the length of time may be extended contingent on how the investigation develops.
Mustafa, 58, boarded the flight with a fake explosive belt created out of mobile phone covers and cables to take control of the plane and change the flight route from Cairo to Cyprus.
After successfully taking control of the flight the Egyptian man held the passengers and crew members as hostages and demanded to see his Cypriot ex-wife with whom he is said to have several children.
“What should someone do, who hasn’t seen his wife and kids for 24 years, because the Egyptian government won’t let him {leave}?” Mustafa said.
The passengers and crew of the EgyptAir plane flight were eventually released unharmed and were flown back to Egypt late on Tuesday.
Mustafa was said to have a criminal record for forgery by Egyptian police, he was also suspected in a number of fraud, theft and narcotics cases.
