Egyptian security forces accidently killed 12 Egyptians and Mexicans in the vast Western Desert after mistaking them for terrorists, the interior ministry said on Monday.
“A joint police and army force were chasing terrorist elements in the western desert area of Al-Wahat and they engaged by mistake with four 4-wheel drives belonging to Mexican tourists who were present in a restricted area,” a statement from Egypt’s interior ministry read.
“The incident resulted in the death of 12 people and the injury of 10 Mexicans and Egyptians, who have been transferred to hospitals for treatment.”
The ministry did not specify the death toll of Egyptians and Mexicans apiece.
The vast Western Desert, which is the gateway to volatile and lawless Libya, has been exploited by militants affiliated to the Islamic State group, who mainly target security forces in Sinai on Egypt’s eastern borders.
Last month, five Egyptian troops died when their helicopter crashed while chasing “terrorists” in the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert. An army spokesman said that was due to a “technical failure”.
At least 21 Egyptian soldiers were killed in July 2014 when gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in the New Valley Governorate, also in the Western Desert.
“An inspection team was formed to identify what happened and why the tourist convoy was present in the aforementioned restricted area,” the interior ministry statement added.
Hundreds of police and army soldiers have been killed by militants since the July 2013 overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi, with the Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province group claiming responsibility for many of the major attacks.
