CAIRO: Essam Ali Atta died of acute drug poisoning, according to a security source in Egypt's Ministry of Interior. Atta's family and Egyptian activists say the 23-year-old was tortured to death in Tora Prison. The source said that on October 27, 2011 Essam Atta Shalaby, age 23, lost consciousness and began to discharge foam from his mouth and nose. A medical examination by the prison doctor found that Atta was suffering from acute drug poisoning. At the time of his death, Atta was serving a two-year prison sentence for case No. 743/2011 of the East Cairo Military Criminal Court for “thuggery and taking over housing units, owning a weapon without a license and facilitation and promotion of drug use.” The source added that Atta “was transferred immediately to Manial University Hospital's Department of Toxicology, where he died while being given first aid.” The hospital report said the death was due to the excessive vomiting of blood, which led to a decline in circulation which stopped his heart. The source said the incident was recorded, the public prosecutor's office was notified and they then took over the investigation.
