Egypt kills Mexican tourists by mistake in desert strike

15.9.15

Egypt kills Mexican tourists by mistake in desert strike: Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian security forces have mistakenly killed 12 people including Mexican tourists while chasing jihadists in the vast Western Desert, sparking condemnation of what Mexico called a "deplorable" air attack.

A joint police and military operation Sunday "chasing terrorist elements" had "mistakenly" targeted four pick-up trucks carrying Mexican tourists, the interior ministry said in a statement.

It did not give a casualties breakdown, but said "the incident led to the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and the wounding of 10 others".

It said the tourists had been in an "off-limits" area, but did not give an exact location.

Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu told reporters that at least two Mexican tourists had been killed in an air strike.