American detainee found dead in Egyptian jail
Egyptians gather near a damaged car bomb that detonated before reaching the intended target killing three passengers on July 24, 2013,in El-Arish in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. The bomb went off as the assailants entered the north Sinai town of El-Arish, where two soldiers were killed in separate shooting attacks earlier, said security officials.
James Lunn, an American arrested after a car bombing in northern Sinai in August, was found dead in an Egyptian jail Sunday.
The former US Army soldier was discovered hanging by his shoelaces and a belt from a bathroom door in the waiting area of the Awal police station in Ismailia, Egypt, public prosecutor Hisham Barakt told CNN.
Lunn, 66, is the second foreigner to die in police custody since the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in July, and one of several to have fallen foul of Egypt's brutal and labyrinthine judicial system this summer.
An investigation has been ordered to determine whether the death was a suicide.
Lunn was arrested Aug. 27 during "combing operations" following a car bombing outside a police station in the turbulent northern region of Sinai, according to a statement from Egyptian officials.
The statement said a computer and maps of "important installations" were found in his possession, but did not identify the facilities.
Lunn was was remanded into police custody and had been remanded again for 30 days by a court on Saturday, according to The Associated Press.
"Our thoughts are with his family as they cope with their loss," a State Department official told CNN. "We have contacted his family and are providing appropriate consular assistance."