Migrants at Israel-Egypt border (Archives)
Photo: Meir Azolay
Egypt: Border guards wound 5 illegal migrants
Security official says guards fired warning shots in effort to stop African refugees from crossing into Israel
An Egyptian security official said border guards have shot and wounded five African migrants and arrested 15 others trying to cross illegally into Israel.
The official said the guards first fired warning shots Saturday to stop the migrants from crossing the border south of Rafah and at the al-Kontella crossing with Israel.
The official said the wounded were taken to a hospital. The others have been detained.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Many migrants seeking political asylum and jobs try to cross into Israel with the help of Bedouin traffickers.
Egypt has killed dozens of migrants at the border in the past two years, drawing criticism from rights groups.
