Algeria confirmed on Sunday that its Coast Guard had fired at a group of four civilian jet skiers riding two jet skis who had mistakenly entered Algerian waters from Morocco where they were on holiday in the resort city of Saidia.
The Algerian Defense Ministry asserted in a press release that a Coast Guard unit had issued audible warnings and asked the men several times to stop, but that they had refused to comply before it opened fire on the victims.
It said the shots forced one of the jet ski operators to stop, while the other jet skiers fled.
It added that authorities found the body of an unidentified male with a gunshot wound in Algerian waters on August 30, the day after the shooting, bringing the death toll to two.
The ministry claimed that the shootings happened amid increased activity by drug-trafficking gangs and organized crime in the border zone, and occurred because the civilians on the jet skis “refused to comply” with orders.
The two French-Moroccan tourists, Bilal Kissi and Abdelali Mechouar, died immediately at the scene, while the third Moroccan victim was seriously injured and is now being held in Algeria.
Morocco’s Human Rights Council (CNDH) strongly condemned the Coast Guard’s shooting of the two Moroccan citizens instead of helping them, saying the incident constitutes a grave violation of international human rights law.
The Oujda Public Prosecutor’s office ordered the opening of a probe on the day of the shooting, August 29.
The family of the two killed victims announced on Sunday that they intend to file a criminal complaint in France, accusing Algerian authorities of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, hijacking of a vessel, and non-assistance to a person in danger. Two law firms based in Paris and Casablanca will initiate the legal proceedings.
The family of Abdelali Mchiouer also demanded the release of his body, which is currently in Algeria’s custody, so that he can be buried in Morocco.