American College Student Arrested in Cairo

Derrik Sweeney, a 19-year-old U.S. college student, was arrested in Cairo Monday as pro-democracy movements continued to rage on in Tahrir Square.
 
Sweeney, a Georgetown University student, was arrested along with two other American students after throwing firebombs at security forces that were clashing with protestors.
 
Sweeney has been studying Arabic in Cairo since August and had attended previous demonstrations. “He got caught up in the whole college-change-the-world mentality, and he believes in democracy strongly,” said his mother, Joy Sweeney.
 
Sweeney’s family and other students at the American University of Cairo describe the student as a “peacemaker” and don’t believe that he actually threw a bomb at Egyptian officials.
 
Sweeney’s parents have contacted U.S. Embassy officials in Egypt, but have received little information so far about their son’s situation.