Slain Italian doctoral student Giulio Regeni was not a spy and he was never arrested by police, Egypt's interior minister said on Monday, denying the involvement of security forces in his killing.
"He was never arrested by any branch of the police. The case certainly involves common criminals," Magdy Abdel Ghaffar told journalists at a press conference in Cairo.
Ghaffar dismissed allegations that security forces had been involved in Regeni's death and said he found such "fanciful" claims "annoying".
"We are gathering information to identify those responsible, helped by a major efforts being made by security forces, who are known for their transparency and integrity," Ghaffar said.
"We treat the case of the young Italian as he were an Egyptian," Ghaffar said, adding: "we were informed of his disappearance on 27 January."
The 28-year-old Cambridge PhD student vanished in Cairo on 25 January after leaving his home in an upscale suburb of the city to take the underground to meet a friend near the central Tahrir Square.
His battered half-naked body was found in a ditch on the western outskirts of Cairo city 9 days later.
Regeni was tortured for several days before dying from a broken neck, according to the autopsy findings. Italy's ambassador in Cairo said he was devastated by the condition of Regeni’s body, which had more than two dozen broken bones, as well as cuts, bruises and burn marks.
He is reported to have been carrying out research on independent trade unions and labour rights in Egypt - a sensitive topic in recent years - and had written articles critical of president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government.
Rights groups say police often detain Egyptians on scanty evidence and that they are beaten or coerced. Scores have disappeared since 2013, the groups say. Egypt denies allegations of police brutality.
Tensions had been high in Egypt at the time of Regeni's disappearance, which coincided with the fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.
The incident has strained ties between Rome and Cairo, which has made no arrests so far.
