Ms Sherbini's husband was attacked by the assailant as he tried to defend his wife and was also accidentally shot by German police.

He is in hospital in critical condition.

This is an abhorrent deed, one that has left us all dismayed and shocked
Thomas Steg
German government spokesman

The Egyptian media have expressed outrage, asking how the incident was allowed to happen and dubbing Ms Sherbini "the martyr of the Hijab", in reference to her Islamic headscarf.

The German government was criticised for what was seen to be a muted reaction.

On Tuesday, spokesman Thomas Steg defended the government's reaction, saying Germany had "not been silent", and that early details about the case had not been sufficiently clear for a "spontaneous reaction".

"This is an abhorrent deed, one that has left us all dismayed and shocked," he said.

He added that Chancellor Merkel would discuss the incident with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at this week's Group of Eight summit in It

Her husband was shot by German police and she was stabbed 18 times in a German courtroom. Given the facts, it doesn't appear as though the German's liked them, let alone protect them.

The Germans really don't like anyone who isn't German. They dislike nationalities by degrees.