Algeria says it fired ‘multiple’ warning shots before gunning down jet skiers who crossed into their territory

The New York Post ^ | 09/04/2023 | Jesse O’Neil

[thegagline]

Algerian officials claim that “multiple” warning shots were fired before its military directly shot at a group of jet skiers who had crossed over from Morocco, killing two of them.

The deadly encounter occurred Tuesday after five jet skiers drifted into Algeria territory while exploring the waters around the Moroccan resort town of Saidia.

“Given that the maritime border area is witnessing intense activity by drug smuggling gangs and organized crime, Coast Guard members fired warning shots,” Algeria’s defense ministry said in a statement.

“After multiple attempts, shots were fired on a jet ski,” officials added.

One of the survivors, Mohamed Kissi, disputed that account of the shooting that killed his 29-year-old brother Bilal and their 40-year-old friend Abdelali Mechouar. *** The border between the African nations has been closed since 1994 and Algiers cut diplomatic ties with Rabat in 2021 after a history of tensions and mistrust in the volatile region. *** Kissi said earlier that the group of friends had been approached by an Algerian government vessel after dark, and were fired upon even after seeing they were unarmed.

“We were low on fuel for the water scooters and were drifting. In the darkness, we found ourselves in Algerian waters,” Kissi told local news site le360, according to SkyNews.

“We knew we were in Algeria because a black Algerian dinghy came towards us [and] fired at us,” he recalled, the BBC reported.

“They arrested my other friend [Snabe]. Five bullets hit my brother and my friend. My other friend was hit by a bullet,” he alleged. ***

[VMI70]

Add bicyclists on main thoroughfares to that.

[VTenigma]

FAFO

[RetiredTexasVet]

If you’ve ever observed those jet skiis, they couldn’t have heard anything.

[thegagline]

Good one!

I must be slipping. I read a book on the six frigates.