CAIRO: Two of the injured passengers in the Arab Contractors bus shooting died later the same day, raising to eight the death toll of a rampage that shocked the nation Tuesday morning.
Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud ordered the driver to be remanded in custody for four days pending investigations into charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, and unlicensed possession of a gun and live ammunition, according to the official state news agency.
Mahmoud Sweilam, who was driving 22 workers from 15th of May City to the company’s electrical and mechanical projects workshops in Meniel Shiha — 20 km south of Cairo — reportedly stopped the bus, took out an automatic rifle and fired randomly at the passengers, leaving six dead and six wounded.
Initial investigations revealed that a dispute between the driver and two of the passengers over the excavation of monuments underneath his home was the motive behind the incident, according to the Ministry of Interior.
According to investigations conducted by the Sixth of October Governorate’s security officials, Abdel Fattah Salem, one of the victims, and other company workers living in the same area, were excavating for monuments under Sweilam’s house.
"When Sweilam reproached them, they mocked and threatened him," said a security official on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
"Sweilam then decided to seek revenge … he hid a rifle under the seat [of the bus] and stopped the bus suddenly 200 meters from the workshops, shot Salem dead and then sprayed gunfire at the rest of the passengers," he said.
Other scenarios suggest that the motive behind the incident was a dispute with the company’s administration over a transfer decision. Others believe that Sweilam was frustrated with his low salary and difficult working conditions.
The prosecution office said that it found no signs of psychological or mental illness that required further forensic examination, the state news agency MENA said.
Sweilam gave himself up to the authorities when he reached the company workshops.
Injured passengers were transferred to the Arab Contractors medical center where one was allowed to leave shortly after receiving medical care.
Arab Contractors said in a statement that the families of the victims will receive LE 100,000 in immediate compensation. An additional LE 500 will be added to the pension for families with school-age children.
The company also promised to pay LE 10,000 to each of the injured employees.
