Suspect said questioned in murder of Israeli in Egypt; victim's wife says motive based on his nationality

The Egyptian investigation team looking into the murder of an Israeli-Canadian Jewish businessman yesterday in Alexandria has identified the perpetrator, according to the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm. He is being interrogated, sources tell the Egyptian outlet.

A number of suspects were interrogated, according to the report.

The Egyptian team includes members of the Public Security, Criminal Investigation, and National Security agencies.

“More information and results about the investigations will be forthcoming in the coming hours,” says an Egyptian source, adding that the investigative team was looking at people who had dealings with the victim in Beheira and Alexandria, where the victim’s company has administrative headquarters in the Smouha district.

Reports in Arabic-language media have identified the victim as Ziv Kipper, the CEO of OK Group LLC, an Egyptian company that specializes in exporting frozen fruits and vegetables.

Kipper’s wife Oksana has told the Kan public broadcaster that she is convinced her husband was killed because of his identity as a Jewish Israeli, adding that he wasn’t being robbed during the incident.

Asked if she’s afraid, she says: “On one hand I’m neither Israeli nor Jewish, but on the other hand I’m the wife of an Israeli, so maybe due to this people will want to harm me. In any case, I have no intention of staying in Egypt.”