US citizen found dead in Ismailia police station

A US citizen was found hanged in a police station cell in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia on Sunday, security sources told news wire AFP. He was believed to have committed suicide, according to security officials.

The 55-year-old retired US military officer, James Henry, was arrested on Arish Road in North Sinai's Arish six weeks earlier ​on August 27 during the curfew, according to state-run news agency MENA.

State-run paper Al-Ahram's online portal reported on that date that Henry was arrested while on his way to Gaza, and that a military source said he would be referred to a military trail.

In an official statement released by the Ministry of Interior today, a security source said that Henry and others were arrested during a combing operation conducted by the security forces after a car bomb exploded in front of North Sinai's Sheikh Zowaid police station. The statement added that they found a computer and maps of important installations with Henry when they arrested him.

The statement added that the US consul had met Henry on Tuesday and said the prisoner was being well treated.

A security source told the state-owned Al-Ahram Sunday that there were abrasions around Henry's neck caused by strangulation, but the rest of his body was unharmed.

The station chief wrote in a report on the incident that Henry used his own belt to hang himself. 

His died a day after he was told that his detention would be extended by 30 days, AFP said.