Egyptian security forces have mistakenly killed 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and wounded 10 during an anti-terror operation.
The incident took place in Egypt’s Western Desert, which borders Libya.
The country’s ministry of the interior said the troops mistook a tourist convoy for militants. At least two Mexicans were killed. Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto has condemned the attack and demanded a full investigation.
Five Mexican nationals are being treated in a Cairo hospital. They were paid a visit by Mexico’s ambassador to Egypt. Reports indicate an Apache helicopter belonging to the Egyptian army carried out an aerial bombardment on the convoy.
Details are still sketchy regarding the exact death toll. Egypt’s security forces have been operating in the Western Desert to try and stop ISIL militants in Libya from forging ties with ISIL militants in Egypt’s far north eastern Sinai region.
