Egyptian security forces mistakenly gunned down 12 tourists, including Mexicans, during an anti-ISIS operation in the Western Desert. The accidental attack happened on Sunday night when four Mexican tourist vehicles entered a restricted zone in the Wahat region of the Western Desert, the Egyptian interior ministry said on Monday, according to BBC.
"A joint force from the police and military, whilst chasing terrorist elements in the oasis area of the western desert tonight, accidentally engage four four-wheel drivers belonging to a Mexican tourist group," said the ministry, according to RT. "The incident resulted in the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and the injury of the 10 others who have been transferred to hospitals."
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto condemned the attack on Mexican tourists and demanded an exhaustive probe into the matter.
México condena estos hechos en contra de nuestros ciudadanos y ha exigido al gobierno de Egipto una exhaustiva investigación de lo ocurrido.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 14, 2015
"Mexico condemns these acts against our citizens and has demanded an exhaustive investigation by the Egyptian government into what occurred," Pena tweeted, according to DPA. "I am profoundly sorry that fellow citizens have lost their lives."
Egyptian authorities have formed a probe committee to look into the matter.
"A working group has been formed to examine the causes and circumstances of the incident as well as the justification for the presence of a tourist group in a region to which access is prohibited," the interior ministry said, according to the Guardian.
