Gregory Porter, 19, is studying abroad at the American University in Cairo. He’s from Glenside, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. At his former high school, the community is “in shock.”
Drexel University student Gregory Porter is one of three students who were arrested Monday night and accused of participating in violent demonstrations outside the American University of Cairo, in Egypt.
Drexel University released a statement Wednesday about Porter's arrest.
"Drexel remains in close contact with Gregory's family as well as the American University in Cairo, the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State," according to a press release.
The university says the U.S. Consul General has met with Porter and two other detained students and confirmed they are safe and being treated well. The students have been questioned by Egyptian authorities, but no charges have been filed.
Porter, 19, is from Glenside, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from La Salle College High School, a private preparatory school, where the community "is shocked" according to school president, Brother Richard Kestler.
"This is a different man that I'm used to seeing, that's for sure," Kestler said.
Porter is now an undergraduate student majoring in international area studies at Drexel. He was studying abroad, when he was arrested.
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The American University sits on Tahrir Square, where tens of thousands of Egyptians are calling for their country's military leaders to hand over power to a civilian government.
According to The Washington Post, Porter and the other two men -- Georgetown University student Derrick Sweeney and 21-year-old Luke Gates from Indiana University -- are accused of throwing flaming canisters at Egyptian security forces from the roof of a school building.
"We are saying prayers that he'll be returned quickly here, to his community," Brother Kestler said.
At least 29 people have been killed and 2,000 others injured since protests began last week.
