British university urges students to leave Egypt after two arrested

Britain's Edinburgh University has urged all of its students in Cairo to return home after two were arrested by Egyptian authorities.

The university says two of its students studying in the city were recently detained and subsequently released by Egyptian authorities.

The university's press office said in a statement that the university had concerns for the safety and well-being of its remaining nine students and urged them to return home, The Associated Press reported.

"We have a responsibility to act in the best interests of our students and to take decisive action when there are concerns for their safety and wellbeing," a spokesman for the university said.

It wasn't clear when the detentions took place but since anti-government protests erupted last month several foreigners have been detained, released and deported amid an unprecedented crackdown in which more than 2,900 people have been arrested.

Academic freedom in Egypt was put in question after the 2016 abduction, torture and killing of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, who was researching trade unions in Egypt.

Agencies contributed to this report.