Egyptian authorities have determined that a viral video in which a man asks police to take him into custody was staged, according to العربية. The man allegedly invented the incident to gain sympathy, and he was detained in the governorates of Beheira and Menoufia, Youm7 reported.
In the clip, the man appealed to the Interior Ministry to arrest him before, he claimed, he was killed over a land dispute, according to Masrawy. The video spread widely on social media and prompted a response from security officials, CNN Arabic reported.
Investigators later concluded the claim was false. Youm7 reported that the man made up the incident to win public sympathy, and that he was taken into custody in Beheira and Menoufia. The Interior Ministry disclosed details of the video after reviewing it, according to العربية and CNN Arabic.
The case drew attention because the man addressed the ministry directly in the footage, asking to be detained. Coverage of the video circulated across several Egyptian outlets before officials released their findings.
Authorities have not announced what charges, if any, the man may face. Further details from the Interior Ministry on the investigation are expected to follow.