Seven detained in Syria's Latakia over death of man in police custody

DAMASCUS, Syria — BEIRUT — Seven people were taken into custody in Syria's coastal city of Latakia after a young man died following his detention at the Haffa police station, according to Damascus-based reporting. The man, identified as Mohammed Husam al-Din Gumayre, was beaten after being taken into custody and later died at a hospital from brain and digestive-system bleeding complications, the reports said. Syria's Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh, said the victim was a hemophilia patient, a condition that increased the risk of bleeding. Al-Saleh said he had been coordinating with Interior Minister Anas Hattab on the case since the first day. Hattab issued a condolence statement to the man's family and said any violations by Interior Ministry personnel would be dealt with firmly within the legal framework, with all those responsible facing appropriate punishment once the investigation is complete. The Latakia Provincial Internal Security Command said the seven detained individuals were being held pending the completion of the investigation and that efforts were ongoing to clarify all aspects of the incident.