Family held in Egypt may face charges

Members of the Halawa family here and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore were last night awaiting developments over reports in Cairo that the four Irish people who have been detained by Egyptian authorities may face criminal charges.

Sisters Fatima, Omaima, and Somaia Halawa and younger brother Ibrihim are among hundreds of people being held by authorities in Cairo, with local reports suggesting they could face charges including attempted murder, possession of firearms, and being members of a militant group.

Yesterday their sister Nosayba, who is in Dublin, confirmed she had spoken with Irish consular staff in Cairo and with a solicitor in the Egyptian capital, with the latter claiming anyone arrested who had been in the mosque could face charges.