CAIRO: Three American students arrested earlier this week for allegedly throwing molotov cocktails at police during the clashes between protesters and police have been set free after days in captivity. The local Egyptian lawyer reported that the military had released the students on Thursday early afternoon. The three young men, Luke Gates, Greg Porter, and Derrik Sweeney, were accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at the police during the ongoing street battles between police and demonstrators in Tahrir Square. According to Kevin Sweeney, the father of Derrik Sweeney, the students were not involved in the clashes, but were merely observing from a nearby rooftop. “He said he was watching from the rooftop and said he was not throwing anything and the next thing you know, they were grabbed by the police forces and hustled off and basically made into a big public display,” said Kevin Sweeney. “He got caught up in the whole college-change-the-world mentality, and he believes in democracy strongly,” Joy Sweeney, Derrik's mother, explained. “I don't believe that he would intentionally throw a bomb at anyone,” his mother continued. “I don't believe that.” Suspicion over the student's participating in the conflict, however, has risen in light of Twitter activity from John Gates (@lhgates), who wrote of “wanting to die” in Egypt. Another Tweet read, “I just don't want to feel anymore,” and another stated, “saw them hanging from the bridge, realise death is the only thing that's immortal.” A video broadcast on state television showed the three Americans lined up against a wall with their school ID's, credit cards, and an Indiana driver's license were spread out on a table. American University Cairo President Lisa Anderson confirmed that the young men are students there, and said the university is working closely with the US embassy to free them. The public showing of the three students being arrested allows officials to declare this a “foreign interference” with the domestic revolution. The State Department has urged American citizens to stay away from the ongoing demonstrations in Tahrir. BM
