Triggering nationwide anger, two tourists were shot dead at sea
According to the Associated Press on September 4th, the Algerian Ministry of Defense has admitted that members of the country's armed forces recently opened fire on a group of motorboat drivers who mistakenly entered the country's waters from Morocco, resulting in two deaths. This shooting incident has sparked nationwide anger in Morocco, further escalating the long-standing tense relationship between Morocco and Algeria.
According to reports, the Moroccan National Human Rights Commission strongly condemned the Algerian Coast Guard's use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians on the 4th, and condemned this incident as a "serious violation of international norms and human rights law.".
In addition, dozens of Moroccan human rights activists gathered outside the parliamentary headquarters in Rabat, waving slogans demanding accountability for the incident.
Moroccan media claimed that Algerian forces killed two holidaymakers in the incident on August 29th. France claimed that the deceased included one French citizen, and another French citizen was detained.
On the evening of the 3rd, the Algerian Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that the country's coastal guard intercepted three water motorboats that had secretly entered the waters of Algeria.
The statement said, "Given the increasing activities of drug trafficking gangs and organized crime in this maritime border area, as well as the stubborn attitude of water motorboat drivers, Coast Guard personnel fired warning shots. After multiple attempts, they fired shots."
The statement stated that the patrol team found the body of a man the next day, which had bullet holes. According to Moroccan media reports, the Moroccan army has found another body.
According to Agence France Presse, Paris prosecutors stated on the 4th that they have launched a parallel investigation into the shooting and killing of two tourists by the Algerian Coast Guard.
Lawyers for the families of the two deceased individuals announced on the 3rd that they plan to file criminal charges against murder, attempted murder, hijacking of ships, and failure to assist those in danger.
According to a report, a judicial source said that prosecutors in the northeastern Moroccan city of Ujda ordered an investigation into the "maritime violence incident" the next day.