CAIRO, Sept. 13 (UPI) — Egyptian security forces shot and killed 12 people, including Mexican tourists, who rode tour vehicles into a restricted area in Egypt’s Western Desert, according to reports.
“A joint force from the police and military, whilst chasing terrorist elements in the oasis area of the western desert tonight, accidentally engaged four four-wheel drives belonging to a Mexican tourist group,” The Guardian quoted Egypt’s interior ministry as saying in a statement.
Ten others were injured in the shooting, according to officials, who said the group had entered Wahat, a “banned area” where their presence was “illegal.”
The BBC reports Islamic State-affiliated militants the day prior had claimed they were present near the Libyan border.
The incident comes less than a month after Egypt introduced strict anti-terrorism laws, including measures that would give President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi the power to fast-track sentences for terror suspects, impose curfews, evict citizens and close off areas. Human rights activists argue the laws will be used to crush dissent.
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