Whereabouts of four Irish siblings unknown

The precise whereabouts and status of four Irish siblings detained after security forces stormed Cairo’s al-Fath mosque at the weekend remain unknown, with neither the family’s lawyer nor Irish diplomats granted access today.

Irish diplomats visited a number of security facilities, including Tora prison on the outskirts of the city, in an unsuccessful attempt to locate Omaima Halawa (21), her sisters Fatima (23) and Soumaya (27) and brother Ibrahim (17).

The Halawas's case is likely to feature in discussions in Brussels tomorrow when EU foreign ministers meet to discuss their response to the escalating crisis in Egypt.

The four Irish siblings were held in military detention at Cairo’s Tora prison after security forces stormed a mosque on Saturday and were expected to meet an Egyptian prosecutor today.

Irish diplomats in Cairo are seeking clarification on what charges, if any, might be pressed against the Halawa siblings.

A Turkish diplomat visiting a Turkish national also detained after the mosque siege met the four siblings in Tora prison late yesterday. He said they were in good health and were being kept together.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Joe Costello welcomed the fact contact had been made with the Halawas. They had been unable to contact their family since Saturday as their phones had been confiscated after they were detained.

“It’s good news that the Turkish diplomat spoke to them as late as yesterday and it’s a relief to hear that they are in good form and that they have been kept together. That was a big concern, that they may have been separated,” Mr Costello said. “But we’ll find out the attitude of the authorities today and we’ll move from there.”