Egypt arrests suspected paedophile after street vendor assault

Public welcome arrest after alleged attack in Cairo was caught on security camera

The act, seen in security camera footage, shocked Egypt. Reuters

A man was arrested in Egypt on Tuesday after security camera footage appeared to show him sexually assaulting a young girl in the capital Cairo.

Leaked video of the incident appeared to show the accused luring the 7-year-old homeless street vendor into the foyer of an apartment building in the city's upscale Maadi neighbourhood and assaulting her.

A woman working at a medical laboratory in the building saw the alleged assault on her security camera monitors and rushed out to confront the man. The girl fled during the argument.

The video, which the laboratory employee posted on social media immediately after the incident, caused an uproar across the country.

Social media users claimed to have tracked down the suspect’s Facebook page and screenshots were widely shared, although authorities have not named the man.

Egypt's National Council for Childhood and Motherhood brought the incident to the attention of the prosecutor general on March 8.

"Upon seeing the video on social media, we contacted the prosecutor general's office directly and urged him to look into the matter," the council's general manager, Sabry Osman, told The National.

He said the girl was being cared for by the council's trauma counsellors.

“They will provide her with all the support she needs, whether it is emotional, psychological or financial," he said.

If the authorities decide the child's family are not able to properly take care of her she will be moved to a childcare facility, Mr Osman said.

Prosecutors said that the security footage would be examined to ensure it was genuine and witnesses would be questioned.

The accused reportedly went into hiding before he was tracked down and arrested. Images of the suspect in handcuffs were shared widely on social media and thousands of users lauded the arrest as a victory for social justice.

The laboratory technician was also praised for her bravery and willingness to speak openly about the case despite Egypt's conservative and patriarchal society.

One of Egypt's most prominent Islamic institutions, Dar Al Ifta, highlighted the incident and said it supported young victims of abuse.

It urged authorities to "confront this heinous crime with the utmost severity".