Egyptian security forces on Monday killed 12 Mexicans and Egyptians when a tourist convoy was mistaken for militants.
A statement by the Mexico Foreign Ministry said 10 people were also injured as the tourists were chased in the country’s western desert.
At least two Mexicans were killed, Mexico’s foreign ministry said in the statement.
A joint force from the Egyptian police and military was chasing militants in the country’s vast western desert, which borders Libya, when it inadvertently opened fire on the convoy.
The convoy was made up of four four-wheel drive vehicles, the Egyptian Interior Ministry, said in a statement, and there would be an investigation into how and why the tourists entered an off-limits area.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto condemned the attack on his Twitter account, describing it as a tragic incident and demanding a full investigation.
“Mexico condemns these deeds against our citizens and has demanded an exhaustive investigation of what has occurred,” Nieto tweeted.
Meanwhile a spokesman for the Egypt’s Tourism Ministry told newsmen that the convoy was at an off-limits site and was using unlicensed cars.
“The convoy was taking part in an unapproved safari,” the spokesman said.
Egypt is battling an insurgency that gained pace after the military ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in mid-2013 following mass protests against his rule.
The insurgency, mounted by Islamic State’s Egyptian affiliate, has killed hundreds of soldiers and police and has started to attack Western targets.
Earlier on Sunday, the Islamic State released a statement carried by its supporters on Twitter, saying it had repelled an attack by the Egyptian military in the western desert.
Reuters/NAN.