Sunday Times 2
Saddam lookalike attacked by gang
An Egyptian Saddam Hussein lookalike claims an Iraqi gang tried to kidnap him and force him to make a pornographic film impersonating the late dictator.
Mohamed Bishr, who comes from Alexandria, said the group hoped to sell their video as exclusive erotic footage of the former leader.
Lookalike: Mohamed Bishr is often mistaken for Saddam Hussain
He claims the gang beat him severely when he refused to go along with the plan, despite being offered $333,000 (£205,000).
The devout Muslim says the gang made threatening phone calls saying they would kidnap him unless he changed his mind.
Last weekend, he was leapt on while en route to a cafe in Alexandria by three men in black suits who tried to bundle him into a vehicle.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Bishr told the Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper: ‘The three men, who had guns hanging from their belts, forced me out of my car and shoved me into a van, hitting my head.’
His final memory is of the men shouting to each other before he was thrown from the van to the pavement and hit his head.
According to The Times, his family said the attackers had either Iraqi or Syrian accents.
Unwilling doppleganger Mr Bishr said there were witnesses to his near-abduction, but that they were too frightened to intervene.
The Egyptian bears such a strong resemblance to Saddam that he has previously been assaulted by Iraqis living in Egypt who mistook him for the despot and hoped to claim a reward by turning him in.
The former Iraqi leader, who was executed in December 2006, was known to keep body doubles in his entourage to help thwart attempts on his life.
Mr Bishr’s sons said he has moved four times in a bid to avoid the attacks. One, Mahmoud, added, ‘We asked police to put special protection on our father because this has happened to us several times.’
© Daily Mail, London
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Hilary Clinton not offended by ‘Monica’ chants in EgyptIt was the kind of welcome that would put most people off.But Hillary Clinton has revealed that she actually welcomed ...
Mohammed Mursi sworn in as Egypt’s presidentCAIRO, June 30, 2012 (AFP) President Mohamed Morsi took the oath of office yesterday to become Egypt's first freely elected ...
Moragasmulla USC unbeaten with three winsMoragasmulla United Sports Club with three consecutive wins is the only unbeaten team in the final round of the Colombo ...
British journalist details horrifying sexual assault in EgyptA British journalist was brutally sexually assaulted in Cairo's Tahrir Square as thousands of Egyptians gathered to celebrate the nation's ...
Chamil, Roshita annex men and women’s carrom titlesJoseph Roshita beat Yashika Rahubadda to win the Women’s Singles title.