The killer of the Coptic jeweller in Cairo’s central Boulaq district has confessed his crime.
During investigations by Central Cairo Prosecution, Muhammad H., 44, unemployed and resident of Kirdassa district on the outskirts of Cairo, admitted he had killed the Coptic jeweller Hosny al-Khanagry in his shop on the evening of 26 February 2024.
The killer said he had planned and executed the murder of the jeweller, a man in his sixties, in order to rob his shop because of his (the killer’s) dire need of money. He said that his divorcee, sister, and a friend had all helped him hide once he had committed his crime. They also helped to hide the gold pieces he had stolen, and the knife he used to kill the jeweller.
The accomplices admitted to concealing the stolen jewellery, but denied they took part in the killing.
Mr Muhammad’s friend said that the killer had stayed with him before committing his crime, whereas his sister who lives in Kirdassa admitted he hid at her home following his crime.
The killer said he had given his divorcee part of the stolen jewellery to sell, which she said she did at EGP20,000. The police found the jewellery that had been sold, also the other portion of the jewellery which was stowed at the killer’s house.
The police had caught the murderer less than 24 hours on the crime. He had killed the Coptic jeweller, Mr Khanagry, on the evening of 26 February 2024, as he attended his shop in the neighbourhood of Boulaq Abul-Ela in central Cairo. His shop carries the sign: “Hosny al-Khanagry and his son Michael”.
The murder took place during an armed robbery. A relative of Mr Khanagry told Watani that surveillance cameras placed in the shop showed that the shop owner was dealt seven knife stabs in the neck and back and left swimming in his blood. The murderer fled with a trove of golden jewellery from the shop. No one intercepted him, even though the shop is in a noisy, densely populated area.
The close relative of Mr Khanagry said that, on the morning of the day the crime was committed, a man visited Khanagry’s shop as a customer who wished to buy golden jewellery. He picked a large collection of jewellery and gold coins, but then left saying he would be back in the evening. He did return in the evening to finalise the sale but, during the negotiation, asked Mr Khanagry to send the worker who helped him around the shop, the only other man there, to buy him a pack of cigarettes. The worker left, and the customer asked to see other pieces of gold. Mr Khanagry turned to open his safe, upon which the murderer attacked him with a knife, stabbing him seven times in the neck and back. The killer then collected the gold and fled. No one outside suspected anything.
When the worker came back, Mr Khanagry was dead. He called the police.
The murder raised fears among the public in general, but especially among Copts, whether the crime might signal a targeting of Copts’ shops or small businesses. Copts, who have a reputation for being an affluent community, represent a large proportion of Egyptian jewellers and gold traders. At the height of Islamic terrorism in Egypt in the 1980s, Coptic jewellers were considered legitimate targets by Islamists who claimed they used the money and stolen gold to fund their terrorist attacks.
Watani International
5 March 2024