Minister confirms four Irish-Egyptians being held in Cairo jail
It has been confirmed that four Irish siblings from the Halawa family are all in military custody in Egypt.
The three sisters and one brother, aged 17 to 27, became trapped in a beseiged mosque in Cairo which was cleared yesterday afternoon by the military.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Joe Costello has said the four siblings, who are Irish-Egyptian, are now being held in the Tora Prison in Cairo.
He understood they are in good health, but said Irish diplomats want to visit them in prison to make sure they are safe.
Mr Costello said: "The events are terrifying that are taking place inside the mosque and outside the mosque and the situation is dire in Cairo and in the rest of the country as well.
"It's a terrifying experience for the three young women and the young man and clearly it's very important that we in Ireland do all we can to ensure the safety of our citizens there."
