Drexel student freed from Cairo prison

Drexel University student Gregory Porter of Glenside, Montgomery County, was released from police custody several hours ago in Cairo.  He is expected to begin flying back back to the United States tonight, and arrive in Washington, D.C., tomorrow.

Porter was arrested Tuesday with two other students at American University of Cairo, Derrik Sweeney, 19, of Georgetown University and Luke Gates, 21, of the University of Indiana. The three were accused of throwing firebombs from a roof at security forces during Tahrir Square protests. The charges were dropped.

Porter’s attorney, Philadelphia-based Theodore Simon, says his client is happy to be free.

“The matter has resolved very, very favorably which has now provided a much fuller opportunity to decide what he will be doing with his future,” Simon said.

Simon says he is not sure whether Porter, an International Area Studies major, will return to school in Cairo or will attend Drexel in Philadelphia. Adrian and Greg Porter, Gregory’s parents, had been working around the clock with Simon to ensure his release.