Brit ‘arrested for patting back of guard’

Egypt: Family fears sex-assault charge

A British father-of-four has been arrested in Egypt after patting a male airport security guard on the back, his friends have claimed.

Supporters of London businessman Tony Camoccio, 51, fear he may be falsely accused of sexual assault after the alleged incident at Hurghada International Airport on February 8.

Mr Comaccio, who has visited Egypt several times, was at the end of his holiday with his wife and a large group of friends when the incident is said to have happened at an airport checkpoint.

He is believed to be in police custody in Hurghada.

More than 3,000 people had signed an online petition by Wednesday evening calling for him to be released.

A statement on the petition website reads: “As standard procedure for all outbound passengers he was patted down by a security officer. Tony then gently patted the officers back and is now facing serious accusations.

“He was held in a general population cell overnight where he remained in handcuffs petrified for his life as he did not know what he was supposedly being charged with or what he had done wrong.”

It is also claimed he was left without food or water in his cell, according to the MailOnline.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of the Detained in Dubai human rights organisation, said authorities had extended Mr Camoccio’s detention for another two weeks to investigate the allegations.

“We are appalled by the arrest and detention of Mr Camoccio and fear for his safety,” she added.

Mr Camoccio is described as having “a loving wife and many friends”.

His father Peter, 73, said: “The case went to court but it could not proceed because the man he was supposed to have upset was not there.”

The Foreign Office has said it is in contact with the family and the authorities in Egypt.