The UK warned its holidaymakers not to cross Morocco’s maritime border into Algeria after two straying water skiers were shot dead.
The Foreign Office said: “The land border between Algeria-Morocco is closed. Don’t attempt to cross it.”
“Be aware that the border extends into the sea,” the statement read. “If you are in a boat or hiring a jet ski, make sure you know where the maritime border is and remain clearly within Moroccan territorial waters,
Bilal Kissi and Abdelali Merchouer, both French-Moroccan dual nationals, came under fire after taking a wrong turn off the beach resort of Saidia on Morocco’s northeast tip.
“Check you have enough fuel to be able to return to shore. In August 2023, two tourists holidaying in Morocco who had allegedly strayed into Algerian waters on their jet skis were shot dead.”
Moroccan media reported that there were four men in the group on Tuesday, all riding jet skis in the Mediterranean.
“We got lost but we kept going until we found ourselves in Algeria,” Mohamed Kissi, the brother of the young man who died, was quoted as saying by the Moroccan website Al Omk.”
“We knew we were in Algeria because a black Algerian dinghy came towards us and those on board fired at us”, he added.
“Five bullets hit my brother and my friend. My other friend was hit by a bullet,” Kissi was quoted as saying.
”We got lost and we were out of fuel,’ he said, adding that he was picked up by the Moroccan navy who took him back to the Saidia marina.”
