Two Egyptian policemen accused of killing a lawyer in custody were detained yesterday on the orders of an Egyptian prosecutor, judicial sources said, a rare action against members of the security forces.

The officers, a lieutenant colonel and a major, will be held for four days pending investigations into the death of Karim Hamdy on Tuesday and could be charged with murder.

Hamdy, 27, died from torture two days after his arrest and the initial forensic report showed he had sustained fractures in the ribs, bruises and bleeding in the chest and head, they said.

Dozens of lawyers staged a protest outside a Cairo court to protest about Hamdy’s death.

Hamdy was arrested at his home on charges of taking part in anti-government protests organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, the movement that the army removed from power in mid-2013.

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