The Tourism Ministry has issued a statement regretting the accidental attack on a group of Mexican tourists late Sunday.

Joint police and army forces mistakenly dealt with four four-by-four vehicles while chasing a group of terrorists in a banned area in el Wahat.

Twelve persons were killed and 10 others were wounded.

The tourists were present in the banned area, said Rasha el Azaizi, the spokeswoman for the Tourism Ministry.

They were traveling in unlicensed cars, she told MENA Monday.

Azaizi said no Safari tours had been authorized by the bodies concerned.

The Ministry of Tourism has formed an operations room to follow up developments of the unfortunate accident, she added.

She said the Ministry also opened an investigation in coordination with security troops and the prosecution office to stand on reasons behind the accident.

Khaled Ramy, the Tourism Minister in the caretaker government, is also closely following up developments of the accident, Azaizi said.

Ramy has vowed to severely punish the company that organized the tour, the spokeswoman noted.

She said the minister condoles with families of the victims and hopes the injured a speedy recovery.

The Tourism Ministry will be coordinating with the Mexican Embassy in Cairo to offer all kind of help to the victims or their families, Azaiza further said

Source: MENA