CAIRO: The Alexandria prosecutor has decided to jail for four days the police officer accused of torturing and killing Said Bilal while in custody in connection with the bombing of the the All Saint's Church in the northern city earlier this year. The officer will now face further investigation, but will not be free. Bilal was under investigation with the bombing and police officers allegedly beat him to death. The All Saint's Church bombing in Alexandria killed 24 worshipers and injured over a 100 when a car bomb went off towards the end of the New Year mass service. Police later arrested the Salafi – who believe in a literal interpretation of Islamic faith – Said Bilal from his home in Alexandria and put him under investigation. He was then beaten brutally and died at the police station. Police officer Ahmed el-Shimy is now accused by prosecutors of beating Bilal to death after listening to the testimonies of several officers during the past months. Investigations found no link between Bilal and the bombing and the investigation continues at what critics say is a slow pace. BM
