Jet ski tourists shot dead off coast of Algeria

Jet ski tourists shot dead off coast of Algeria

Two tourists – holidaying in Morocco – have been shot dead by the Algerian coastguard, after they reportedly strayed into Algerian waters on their jet skis.  

The two tourists were among four French-Moroccan dual nationals who had set off from the Moroccan resort of Saidia. 

A third member of the group was arrested by the coastguard which patrols the two states’ closed border. 

There have been years of tensions between the two countries – with the border between them closing in 1994.  

The shooting has sparked anger in Morocco, with only one of the group of four making it back to Morocco, AFP reported, quoting Moroccan media. 

“We got lost but we kept going until we found ourselves in Algeria,” said Mr Kissi, whose brother Bilal was killed. He said the group had also run out of fuel.

“We knew we were in Algeria because a black Algerian dinghy came towards us” and those on board “fired at us”, he said.

“Thank God I wasn’t hit but they killed my brother and my friend,” he added.

Mr Kissi denied the group had tried to escape when they were discovered by the coastguard, telling local media that his brother had tried talking to officials before he was shot.

“They arrested my other friend. Five bullets hit my brother and my friend. My other friend was hit by a bullet.”