Egyptian Security Force Allegedly Kills 12 Members Of A Tourist Group By Accident In An Anti-Terror Operation
On Sunday at around four in the afternoon, the Egyptian security forces allegedly killed 12 tourists and guides and injured 10 others during an anti-terror operation in the Bahariya oasis in Egypt's western desert. Quartz reported in an article on Monday two of the fatalities and five of the injured victims were Mexicans.
According to The Guardian on Monday, the interior ministry of Egypt said the security force was hunting for terrorists within the area when it "accidentally engaged four four-wheel drives belonging to a Mexican tourist group."
"Mexico condemns these acts against our citizens and has called on the government of Egypt for a thorough investigation of what happened," said Mexico's president Enrique Peña Nieto.
The Mexican tour group apparently entered the area without the proper permits, said a spokesman for the tourism ministry of Egypt.
"A working group has been formed to examine the causes and circumstances of the incident as well as the justification for the presence of a tourist group in a region to which access is prohibited," said the interior ministry.
The injured victims were taken to the Dar-el-Fouad hospital in Giza where they were given attention to by consular officials.
The economy of Egypt has greatly benefited from tourists arriving in the country, however, tourism has declined in the past years as the country attempts to recuperate from political and economic conflicts. In 2010, around 15 million tourists visited Egypt, while 2014 has only a recorded 10 million tourists.
The effect of the tragedy on the country's tourism will most likely be observed within the next few months or until military tensions between Egypt and Israel are pacified.
