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| Egyptian forces kill tourists and guides 'while chasing terrorists' – rolling report | Egyptian forces kill tourists and guides 'while chasing terrorists' – rolling report |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.13am BST04:13 | |
| Reports are circulating online that one of those killed in this incident is 37-year-old Awad Fathi, an Egyptian hotel manager and tour guide. | |
| 4.04am BST04:04 | |
| Summary | |
| According to the Arabic-language newspaper, Al Masry Al Youm, a spokesman for the Egyptian tourism ministry has claimed the vehicles in which the tourists were travelling were not licensed, did not notify authorities of their presence and did not have the necessary permits to be in the area. | |
| The full story is here | |
| 3.55am BST03:55 | 3.55am BST03:55 |
| My colleague Jo Tuckman reports that Mexico’s foreign minister has tweeted a Mexican mobile phone number “for any information about Mexicans living or travelling in Egypt”. | |
| La Embajada de #México en @Egipto, @EmbaMexEgipto pone a disposición el teléfono de emergencias 24/7 +201093269490 | La Embajada de #México en @Egipto, @EmbaMexEgipto pone a disposición el teléfono de emergencias 24/7 +201093269490 |
| Updated at 4.01am BST | |
| 3.28am BST03:28 | 3.28am BST03:28 |
| Mexico's ambassador to Egypt says five Mexicans among injured | Mexico's ambassador to Egypt says five Mexicans among injured |
| From my colleague Jo Tuckman, in Mexico: | From my colleague Jo Tuckman, in Mexico: |
| The Mexican foreign ministry put out a statement on Sunday night saying that “at this moment there are two confirmed Mexican nationals who died in the incident”. The ministry said it was still in the process of confirming the identity of the victims. | The Mexican foreign ministry put out a statement on Sunday night saying that “at this moment there are two confirmed Mexican nationals who died in the incident”. The ministry said it was still in the process of confirming the identity of the victims. |
| The statement also said the Mexican ambassador in Egypt, Jorge Álvarez Fuentes, had personally talked to five Mexican who have been taken to hospital and are in a stable condition. It said that the number of Mexicans among the group of tourists was not now known. | The statement also said the Mexican ambassador in Egypt, Jorge Álvarez Fuentes, had personally talked to five Mexican who have been taken to hospital and are in a stable condition. It said that the number of Mexicans among the group of tourists was not now known. |
| Updated at 3.42am BST | Updated at 3.42am BST |
| 3.22am BST03:22 | 3.22am BST03:22 |
| Mexico’s foreign minister, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, has also confirmed the deaths of two Mexicans, but says her office is “confirming the identities of other possible victims”. | Mexico’s foreign minister, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, has also confirmed the deaths of two Mexicans, but says her office is “confirming the identities of other possible victims”. |
| Lamentablemente, tenemos confirmado el fallecimiento de dos mexicanos. Estamos confirmando las identidades de otras posibles víctimas. | Lamentablemente, tenemos confirmado el fallecimiento de dos mexicanos. Estamos confirmando las identidades de otras posibles víctimas. |
| The injured – at least five Mexicans reportedly among them – are being treated at the Dar-el-Fouad hospital in Giza. | The injured – at least five Mexicans reportedly among them – are being treated at the Dar-el-Fouad hospital in Giza. |
| El Emb de México en Egipto Jorge Álvarez y personal consular se encuentran en el Hospital Dar-el-Fouad atendiendo a los nacionales afectados | El Emb de México en Egipto Jorge Álvarez y personal consular se encuentran en el Hospital Dar-el-Fouad atendiendo a los nacionales afectados |
| Updated at 3.42am BST | Updated at 3.42am BST |
| 3.15am BST03:15 | 3.15am BST03:15 |
| Mexican president condemns killings | Mexican president condemns killings |
| En un trágico incidente en Egipto, turistas mexicanos fueron atacados. Lamento profundamente que connacionales hayan perdido la vida. | En un trágico incidente en Egipto, turistas mexicanos fueron atacados. Lamento profundamente que connacionales hayan perdido la vida. |
| “In a tragic incident in Egypt, Mexican tourists were attacked. I deeply regret that people have lost their lives.” | “In a tragic incident in Egypt, Mexican tourists were attacked. I deeply regret that people have lost their lives.” |
| El Embajador de México en Egipto se encuentra apoyando a los heridos hospitalizados. | El Embajador de México en Egipto se encuentra apoyando a los heridos hospitalizados. |
| “Mexico’s Ambassador to Egypt has been supporting the wounded in hospital.” | “Mexico’s Ambassador to Egypt has been supporting the wounded in hospital.” |
| He indicado a la @SRE_MX, incrementar nuestro personal diplomático en aquel país, para auxiliar a las víctimas y a sus familiares. | He indicado a la @SRE_MX, incrementar nuestro personal diplomático en aquel país, para auxiliar a las víctimas y a sus familiares. |
| “I have indicated to the Mexican secretariat of foreign affairs to increase our diplomatic personnel in that country, to assist the victims and their families.” | “I have indicated to the Mexican secretariat of foreign affairs to increase our diplomatic personnel in that country, to assist the victims and their families.” |
| México condena estos hechos en contra de nuestros ciudadanos y ha exigido al gobierno de Egipto una exhaustiva investigación de lo ocurrido. | México condena estos hechos en contra de nuestros ciudadanos y ha exigido al gobierno de Egipto una exhaustiva investigación de lo ocurrido. |
| “Mexico condemns these acts against our citizens and has called on the government of Egypt for a thorough investigation of what happened.” | “Mexico condemns these acts against our citizens and has called on the government of Egypt for a thorough investigation of what happened.” |
| Updated at 3.22am BST | Updated at 3.22am BST |
| 3.08am BST03:08 | 3.08am BST03:08 |
| Mexico confirms two nationals killed | Mexico confirms two nationals killed |
| Mexico’s foreign ministry has just tweeted, confirming the deaths of two of its nationals. | Mexico’s foreign ministry has just tweeted, confirming the deaths of two of its nationals. |
| Se tiene confirmado el fallecimiento de dos nacionales mexicanos producto de este incidente. | Se tiene confirmado el fallecimiento de dos nacionales mexicanos producto de este incidente. |
| It reads: “We can confirm the deaths of two Mexican nationals as a result of this incident.” | It reads: “We can confirm the deaths of two Mexican nationals as a result of this incident.” |
| .@ruizmassieu ha estado en comunicación con el Emb. de Egipto en México y le exigió una investigación a fondo y explicación de los hechos. | .@ruizmassieu ha estado en comunicación con el Emb. de Egipto en México y le exigió una investigación a fondo y explicación de los hechos. |
| “Claudia Ruiz Massieu [the Mexican foreign minister] has been in communication with the embassy of Egypt in Mexico and demanded an investigation into background and explanation of the facts.” | “Claudia Ruiz Massieu [the Mexican foreign minister] has been in communication with the embassy of Egypt in Mexico and demanded an investigation into background and explanation of the facts.” |
| Updated at 3.14am BST | Updated at 3.14am BST |
| 3.00am BST03:00 | 3.00am BST03:00 |
| Significantly, hours before this shooting Islamic State announced its presence in Egypt’s Western desert through its local affiliate, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. The group, regarded as the country’s deadliest militants, pledged allegiance to Isis in November last year. | Significantly, hours before this shooting Islamic State announced its presence in Egypt’s Western desert through its local affiliate, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. The group, regarded as the country’s deadliest militants, pledged allegiance to Isis in November last year. |
| The group has staged attacks in the Western desert before, and analyst Michael Horowitz has suggested the announcement was intended to alleviate pressure on the group in the Sinai, where it is also involved in clashes with the government. | The group has staged attacks in the Western desert before, and analyst Michael Horowitz has suggested the announcement was intended to alleviate pressure on the group in the Sinai, where it is also involved in clashes with the government. |
| #Egypt | #BREAKING : #ISIS announced its presence in Egypt's Western Sahara Desert and clashes with the Egyptian army pic.twitter.com/zjHX7Uwtx1 | #Egypt | #BREAKING : #ISIS announced its presence in Egypt's Western Sahara Desert and clashes with the Egyptian army pic.twitter.com/zjHX7Uwtx1 |
| Updated at 3.31am BST | Updated at 3.31am BST |
| 2.32am BST02:32 | 2.32am BST02:32 |
| Here’s a map showing where we understand the shootings to have taken place. Despite the Egyptian government’s claim that the tourists were in the area illegally, the Western desert’s oases – Bahreya, Farafirah, Kharga and Dakhla – have attracted sightseers for decades. | Here’s a map showing where we understand the shootings to have taken place. Despite the Egyptian government’s claim that the tourists were in the area illegally, the Western desert’s oases – Bahreya, Farafirah, Kharga and Dakhla – have attracted sightseers for decades. |
| Updated at 3.29am BST | Updated at 3.29am BST |
| 2.27am BST02:27 | 2.27am BST02:27 |
| We’re still unclear on how many Egyptians and Mexicans were killed, as well as the exact location of the shootings. I’ve just spoken to someone in the Bahariya oasis who claims the shooting was close by, but that has not been confirmed. | We’re still unclear on how many Egyptians and Mexicans were killed, as well as the exact location of the shootings. I’ve just spoken to someone in the Bahariya oasis who claims the shooting was close by, but that has not been confirmed. |
| The area has been riven by conflict between Egypt’s military and Islamist militants. Ahram Online has this background: | The area has been riven by conflict between Egypt’s military and Islamist militants. Ahram Online has this background: |
| The vast Western desert, which is the gateway to volatile and lawless Libya, has been exploited by militants affiliated to the Islamic State group, who mainly target security forces in Sinai on Egypt’s eastern borders. | The vast Western desert, which is the gateway to volatile and lawless Libya, has been exploited by militants affiliated to the Islamic State group, who mainly target security forces in Sinai on Egypt’s eastern borders. |
| Last month five Egyptian troops died when their helicopter crashed while chasing “terrorists” in the Siwa oasis in the Western desert. An army spokesman said that was due to a “technical failure”. | Last month five Egyptian troops died when their helicopter crashed while chasing “terrorists” in the Siwa oasis in the Western desert. An army spokesman said that was due to a “technical failure”. |
| At least 21 Egyptian soldiers were killed in July 2014 when gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in the New Valley governorate, also in the Western desert. | At least 21 Egyptian soldiers were killed in July 2014 when gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in the New Valley governorate, also in the Western desert. |
| “An inspection team was formed to identify what happened and why the tourist convoy was present in the aforementioned restricted area,” the interior ministry statement said. | “An inspection team was formed to identify what happened and why the tourist convoy was present in the aforementioned restricted area,” the interior ministry statement said. |
| Hundreds of police and army soldiers have been killed by militants since the July 2013 overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi, with the Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province group claiming responsibility for many of the major attacks. | Hundreds of police and army soldiers have been killed by militants since the July 2013 overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi, with the Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province group claiming responsibility for many of the major attacks. |
| Read the full piece here | Read the full piece here |
| Updated at 2.33am BST | Updated at 2.33am BST |
| 2.03am BST02:03 | 2.03am BST02:03 |
| Via Reuters, a little background on the unrest in Egypt – including about a tweet by Islamic State militants earlier on Sunday claiming they had “repelled” an attack by security forces in the same (admittedly vast) area. | Via Reuters, a little background on the unrest in Egypt – including about a tweet by Islamic State militants earlier on Sunday claiming they had “repelled” an attack by security forces in the same (admittedly vast) area. |
| Egypt is battling an insurgency that gained pace after the military ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in mid-2013 after mass protests against his rule. | Egypt is battling an insurgency that gained pace after the military ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in mid-2013 after 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. | 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 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, a recent development for the insurgency that had been largely based in the Sinai peninsula with occasional attacks taking place in Cairo and other cities. | Earlier on Sunday 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, a recent development for the insurgency that had been largely based in the Sinai peninsula with occasional attacks taking place in Cairo and other cities. |
| Updated at 2.31am BST | Updated at 2.31am BST |
| 2.00am BST02:00 | 2.00am BST02:00 |
| Here’s our first take on this developing story out of Egypt. | Here’s our first take on this developing story out of Egypt. |
| At least a dozen tourists and their guides have been killed in what is reported to be an accidental attack on their convoy by Egyptian security forces. | At least a dozen tourists and their guides have been killed in what is reported to be an accidental attack on their convoy by Egyptian security forces. |
| The tourists are reported to be Mexican and as many as 10 other passengers in a convoy of four cars are said to have been injured. | The tourists are reported to be Mexican and as many as 10 other passengers in a convoy of four cars are said to have been injured. |
| A statement from Egyptian interior ministry said while police and armed forces were pursuing “terrorist elements” they accidentally engaged with a tourist convoy. | A statement from Egyptian interior ministry said 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”. | The ministry statement claimed the tourists should not have been in that area and their presence there was “illegal”. |
| Read the full story here | Read the full story here |
| Updated at 2.30am BST | Updated at 2.30am BST |
| 1.53am BST01:53 | 1.53am BST01:53 |
| Welcome to our rolling coverage of the shooting of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians in Egypt’s Western desert by the country’s security forces. | Welcome to our rolling coverage of the shooting of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians in Egypt’s Western desert by the country’s security forces. |
| Egypt’s interior ministry has issued this statement confirming the deaths, which it said was accidental. | Egypt’s interior ministry has issued this statement confirming the deaths, which it said was accidental. |
| 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. | 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 incident resulted in the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and the injury of 10 others who have been transferred to hospitals. | The incident resulted in the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and the injury of 10 others who have been transferred to hospitals. |
| Stay with us for more on this developing story. | Stay with us for more on this developing story. |
| Updated at 2.31am BST | Updated at 2.31am BST |