CAIRO, Feb 16 (Aswat Masriya) – An Alexandria criminal court acquitted on Tuesday a former state security officer, who was accused of torturing a man to death in a high profile case dating back to 2011.

Policeman Hossam al-Shennawi is one of five policemen who faced trial for the killing of Sayed Belal, whose death is seen as one of the sparks of the January 2011 uprising which saw the end of former president Hosni Mubarak's 30 year rule.

The court initially sentenced Shenawi in absentia to 15 years of prison but he requested a retrial. Another police officer who was also sentenced and requested a re-trial was acquitted as well, in May 2015.

Belal was arrested in January 2011 on allegations of involvement in the 2011 New Year's Eve bombing of the Two Saints Church in Alexandria. He was arrested alongside several other Salafis, who are considered more conservative followers of Sunni Islam. The attack on the church claimed the lives of 23 people and injured dozens.

The death of Belal was seen as one of the sparks of the January 2011 Uprising which saw the end of former president Hosni Mubarak's 30 year rule. 

The State’s Security is a branch of the police, whose name was later changed to National Security after the 2011 Uprising, amid public calls for police reforms.