Israeli tourists killed by Egyptian cop who ‘lost control’ at ancient Roman site

News

By Alex Oliveira

Two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were murdered by an Egyptian police officer at a popular archeological site in Alexandria on Sunday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported.

The trio was gunned down while visiting the ancient Roman site Pompey’s Pillar, located in the heart of the coastal city.

It remains unclear what sparked the shooting, but two Egyptian security sources told Reuters the cop claimed he lost control after being provoked by the tour group, then randomly unloaded his gun into their midst

Another person was injured in the shooting, but reports have varied as to whether they were Egyptian or Israeli.

The shooter was taken into custody, according to reports.

Footage from the scene showed bodies slumped about the ancient site, as investigators moved among them and onlookers cried out in distress.

The shooting came just a day after Hamas militants descended on Israel in a sneak attack that’s resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis and scores more being taken hostage by the Palestinian terror group.

Thousands more people in Israel have been wounded.

Israel has since declared war on Hamas and vowed “mighty vengeance” against the group, resulting in the death of more than 370 Palestinians and 2,000 wounded in Gaza so far, according to Gaza officials.

Egypt was the first nation in the region to formalize relations with Israel with a peace treaty in 1979.

Since then, the nation has been instrumental in mediating relations between Israel, Palestinians and Arab nations.

Pro-Palestinian sentiments among Egyptian citizenry have long led to tensions with visiting Israelis.

In June, three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian security officer were killed by an Egyptian policeman during an altercation over a smuggling operation on the Egyptian border.

Israel called that killing a terrorist attack.