Moroccan vacationers ‘shot useless’ after coming into Algerian waters on jet ski

Sep 01, 2023 at 2:48 PM

Two Moroccan vacationers on jet skis have reportedly been shot useless after straying into Algerian waters.

They had been amongst a bunch who misplaced their bearings off the Moroccan city of Saidia on Tuesday.

“We were low on fuel for the water scooters and were drifting. In the darkness, we found ourselves in Algerian waters,” Mohamed Kissi advised Moroccan website Le360.

He mentioned his brother Bilal, 29, and Abdelali Mechouer, 40, had been killed after an Algerian authorities boat approached them and began firing.

He claimed they attacked regardless of seeing they had been unarmed and his brother exchanging phrases with them.

Another man of their celebration was wounded and detained, mentioned Mr Kissi, who mentioned he swam away earlier than being picked up by Moroccan authorities.

There is a protracted historical past of tensions between the 2 North African international locations over points such because the disputed Western Sahara area.

Their border has been closed since 1994 and diplomatic relations had been minimize in 2021.

Moroccan authorities mentioned they could not touch upon the incident as a result of the case is a judicial matter. Algerian authorities have additionally but to reply.

Some of the group have twin Moroccan-French nationality, and France’s overseas ministry confirmed it had obtained phrase that certainly one of its nationals had been killed and one other detained.

It mentioned it was involved with the households and authorities in each Algeria and Morocco.

Mr Mechouer’s father, in the meantime, mentioned he needed his son’s physique introduced dwelling.

“I appeal to Moroccan and Algerian authorities to reach an agreement to bring my son back to me to observe a proper funeral and burial for him,” he mentioned.