US Student Killed In Egypt Was Andrew Pochter, 21

A US student killed during violence in Egypt has been identified as 21-year-old Andrew Pochter. He died on Friday after he was stabbed in the chest in the coastal city of Alexandria.

Pochter was in Egypt in order to improve his Arabic and teach English to children. The Chevy Chase, Maryland resident was stabbed during a protest in the country. He was a bystander.

The US student’s family added that he traveled to Alexandria for the summer to teach English to seven- and eight-year-olds. The family’s statement went on to say:

“He went to Egypt because he cared profoundly about the Middle East … He had studied in the region, loved the culture, and planned to live and work there in the pursuit of peace and understanding.”

After his summer in Egypt, Andrew Pochter was looking forward to his junior year at Ohio’s Kenyon College. He planned on studying abroad in Jordan next spring.

Pochter was working as an intern at American educational non-profit AMIDEAST, where he was a rising juror. He also served on campus as a student leader of the school’s Jewish organization, Hillel. His roommate in Alexandria added that Pochter was in the city since the beginning of June.

The US student was one of two people killed in the city on Friday as clashes erupted over political issues. At least 85 people were also injured while more than five offices of the Muslim Brotherhood were set on fire. The State Department explained that Pochter was photographing the clashes when he was stabbed.

Tensions in the region have increased steadily as Egyptians prepare for a major ant-Morsi demonstration, which is planned for Sunday. The tensions have lead the State Department to warn Americans against traveling to Egypt unless it was essential. The department also authorized some of its non-emergency employees and family members to leave Egypt for the time being.

The US State Department is also helping with arrangements to send Andrew Pochter’s body back to his family.

[Image via Twitter]