Immigration minister praises Egyptian truck driver who helped police arrest murder suspect in California

CAIRO – 14 April 2021: Egyptian Immigration Minister Nabila Makram made a phone call with Egyptian big rig truck driver Ahmed Shabaan who last week helped police arrest a chase suspect who was wanted in connect to a murder in California.

“We are proud of what Shaaban did because it is a great message that emphasized the courage of the Egyptian people,” a statement by the ministry quoted Makram as saying.

Shaaban managed to help police end a lengthy chase across Southern California by blocking the path of the suspect’s pickup truck, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.

Footage published by American media showed Shaaban while lining his massive truck so that the suspect’s pickup truck would smash into it near an intersection in the Pomona area.

“The minister added that Shaaban is an ideal and honorable example that reflects to the foreign communities the values of preserving nobility and the well-established Egyptian traditions and customs,” the statement added.

Talking to the minister, Shaaban said he is proud of his Egyptian nationality and is keen to teach the Arabic language to his two sons and also teach them to be proud of their identity, civilization and home country.

Shaaban said he is also keen that his sons participate in the presidential initiative, dubbed “Etkalem Arabi” (translated as Speak Arabic).

The initiative addresses the second and third generation of Egyptian youth and children living abroad and seeks to integrate many internal issues such as customs, traditions and idioms.

It also promotes the values of acceptance of the other and peaceful coexistence.