Sudanese migrant killed in Sinai

An Egyptian health official says border guards have killed a Sudanese migrant who was allegedly trying to cross illegally into Israel.

Imad Kharboush of El-Arish Hospital says 29-year-old Mohammed Tahir Mersal died in the hospital on Tuesday of a gunshot wound.

Another Sudanese migrant, Al-Tayeb Adam, says the guards fired in the air as he, Mersal and three others were trying to cross into Israel.

Adam says Mersal was shot when he continued to flee to the border fence. Adam says he and the other men surrendered and were later arrested at the hospital.

He says each migrant paid $500 (about R3 944,28) to human traffickers for shelter in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and a ride to the Israeli border. He says they were seeking political asylum and jobs in Israel. – Sapa-AP

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