Greek President Karolos Papoulias has apologised to President Mohamed Morsi for recent attacks on Egyptian migrants in Greece, presidential aide for foreign affairs Ayman Ali said Monday.

Waleed Taleb, a 29-year-old undocumented Egyptian immigrant, was recently found chained to a tree on the island of Salamina west of Athens. He had been brutally beaten all over his body.

Frequent attacks have been targeting immigrants in Greece, allegedly by members of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party. Last Wednesday a mob reportedly led by Golden Dawn orchestrated an attack on immigrants that left several injured, including five Egyptians. Another twelve Egyptians were arrested by police but media reports have not mentioned whether the attackers have been arrested.

According to the Al-Ahram Arabic website Ali said the Greek president had promised to take the necessary measures against the assailants and confirmed the attacks against Egyptians did not reflect state policy or orientation.

Ali’s statements came after his meeting with President Morsi on Monday.