The Thai student, who has been held in custody in Egypt by the country’s security officials since his arrest on September 24^th on suspicion of links to Islamic State, has been released and returned to his family in the southern Thai province of Yala.

A well-informed source said that the student, whose identity has not been disclosed, was released on Sunday and immediately flown back to Thailand, adding that he had expressed his thanks to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the Thai Embassy in Cairo and the Fourth Army Region for their help.

The Thai student was apprehended by Egyptian security officials after they found several images on his mobile device which indicated possible links to the extremist group.  He had also reportedly confessed, through an online TV show, that he supported IS.