© ReutersEgyptian soldiers keep guard during a military operation in Rafah, near the border with the southern Gaza Strip.
The tourists are reported to be Mexican and as many as ten other passengers in a convoy of four cars are said to have been injured.
#Egypt | #BREAKING : Egyptian Police announced: 12 Egyptians and Mexicans killed after accidental opening of fire pic.twitter.com/pPepAKQWZU
— INC World (@INCWorldAgency) September 13, 2015A statement from Egyptian interior ministry said that while police and armed forces were pursuing "terrorist elements" they accidentally engaged with a tourist convoy.
The ministry statement claimed the tourists should not have been in that area and their presence there was "illegal".
Comment: That makes it ok then.
"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 ministry said in a statement.
"The incident resulted in the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and the injury of 10 others who have been transferred to hospitals."
The statement added that the wounded were taken to hospital and an investigation had been launched into the circumstances of the incident.
What?! Mexican tourists in the war zone of Egypt, gunned down by soldiers looking for terrorists. Huh? Have the drug cartels expanded into Egypt, and now being taken out by the military? This story makes no sense, and is way too light on facts.