A Coptic surgeon was found murdered in his flat on 13 January in Upper Egypt, making him the fourth Coptic Christian murder victim in ten days.
Married father-of-two Bassam Safwat Atta, 35, who lived in Dairut City in Asyut Governorate, had a single gash in his neck and was lying face down drenched in blood, according to a neighbour who found him.
Blood-stained knife
The neighbour, Mokhles Nageh, who forced entry into the flat at the request of Dr Atta’s wife, said that the doctor’s mobile phone and keys were beside him on the ground, along with a bloodstained knife.
Mr Nageh, who is also a Copt, added: ‘There wasn’t any sign of violent struggle in the apartment. Everything was in its place and nothing was missing, including money and Bassam’s wife’s jewellery.’ A cousin of the deceased, who did not wish to be named, said there were 40,000 Egyptian pounds (US $2,100) in the flat.
