British dad detained in Egypt for ‘patting airport security guard on back’ is freed
15 February 2020, 13:19
A British father has been released from custody in Egypt after he was detained there accused of patting an airport security guard on the back.
Tony Camoccio, 51, had been held after an incident at an airport on February 8.
Mr Camoccio, from London, was coming back from holiday when the incident took place. He was reportedly held in custody at a checkpoint at Hurghada International Airport when he gently patted an officer on the back during a search, according to a campaign group which had been calling for his release.
Thousands of people signed a petition calling for him to be freed.
Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling, who led the campaign for Camoccio’s freedom, said today, "We are very happy to report that British citizen Tony Camoccio has been released from Egyptian custody after paying approximately £1,000 in bail and related fees. The case has been dismissed for lack of evidence, and Tony will be flying home to the UK on the next available flight from Cairo.”
Mr Camoccia said: “I’m very excited to be heading home and can’t wait to see all of my family and rest after the past week’s events.
“I’m very thankful to everyone for their support, my friends and family, my lawyer Elezab Ali Elezab, John Kenny from the consulate and Radha Stirling who have done their best to get me home”.
The Foreign Office has been contacted to comment on this story.
