Navy Shot Killed Egyptian: US

Warning blast to trading vessel in Suez Canal proved fatal
Posted Mar 26, 2008 5:03 PM CDT
Navy Shot Killed Egyptian: US
Saada Abdel Al holds her two children, Rahma, 4, and Fouad, 8 months, at the family house after the funeral procession of her husband Mohammed Fouad, 27, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

The US Navy acknowledged today that warning shots from one of its ships in the Suez Canal killed an Egyptian man, Reuters reports. Sources said the boat trying to sell goods to passing vessels approached the Global Patriot, which fired after warnings in Arabic and flares failed to make the small motorboat change course. The Navy had denied reports of the death.

Though one official stood by the ship's decision to fire, the US Fifth Fleet—based in the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain—issued an apology and promised aid to the family of Mohammed Fouad Afifi Gaafer, who died Monday. (More Egypt stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X