The pending release of three American students arrested in Egypt during protests near Cairo's Tahrir Square is the best Thanksgiving gift, the mother of one of the young men said Thursday.
Joy Sweeney of Jefferson City said the consul general confirmed Thursday morning that her 19-year-old son, Derrik Sweeney, will be released. He was arrested Monday along with two fellow Americans studying in Cairo. Currently he and the two other men are being detained in a holding cell in a police station in Cairo.
Sweeney discovered her son wouldn’t be released from the police station until Sunday, as opposed to Friday as they had previously been informed.
She spoke with her son this afternoon and said he was good spirits, despite having to stay in Cairo for three extra days.
“It's gone from ah we were ecstatic he’s going to get out of there today to oh no not again not another problem to he’s ok with it, were ok with it, he’s just happy to know he’s going to get out of there on Sunday. ”
Derrick Sweeney also told his mother they were able to have a Thanksgiving dinner in their cell.
This post includes copy from the AP Wire
