Probe into student death 'ongoing': UK embassy in Cairo

By Viola Fahmy

CAIRO (AA) - The British embassy in Cairo has described the death of an Egyptian exchange student -- who died this week after being severely beaten in the U.K. -- as a "tragic accident", saying investigations into her death remained underway.

In late February, Mariam Abdel Salam, an 18-year-old engineering student studying in Nottingham, was reportedly beaten by a group of British women of African descent.

On Wednesday, Abdel Salam succumbed to her injuries while being treated for brain damage at a U.K. hospital.

“Investigations remain underway into this horrific attack,” the embassy said in a Thursday statement, offering its condolences to the victim's family and friends.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry also offered its condolences to Abdel Salam’s family, who are determined to take legal action with a view to bringing the attackers to justice.

On March 4, the British embassy in Cairo described the assault on the student as “unacceptable”, saying that British police had arrested at least one person in connection with the incident.