US Navy admits shooting Egyptian and says sorry

Mar 28, 2008
Author: P&S

The Commander of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, Vice-Admiral Kevin J Cosgriff has expressed regret for the death of an Egyptian citizen who was shot dead when his boat approached a US cargo ship in the Suez Canal. (See our report in yesterday’s News Bulletin CLICK HERE)

“We express our deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased,” said Vice Adm. Cosgriff. “We are greatly saddened by events that apparently resulted in this accidental death. This situation is tragic, and we will do our utmost to help take care of the family of the deceased.”

US military authorities initially denied knowledge of anyone having been killed in the incident, saying that warning shots had been fired in front of the approaching boat and that these shots had been monitored and accounted for.

Cosgriff gave the assurance that the US will work through the investigation thoroughly in full co-operation with Egyptian authorities including the Suez Canal authorities.

“We will work through the investigation very thoroughly, coordinating with authorities and the embassy, to get a full and transparent account of what happened,” Cosgriff said.

The shots were fired by a US security team that had embarked on the chartered American freighter Global Patriot.