4 African migrants killed along Egypt-Israel border

Nomads have been targets recently in the Sinai desert. A mother collected wood last week from her ruined home.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Migrants trying to flee Egypt for Israel were killed by smugglers, official media says
• The Egyptian government is investigating the incident
• There are conflicting reports on the number of casualties

RELATED TOPICS

• Eritrea
• Shootings
• Egypt

(CNN) -- As many as four African migrants from Ethiopia and Eritrea trying to cross into Israel from Egypt's Sinai desert were shot dead by smugglers and 10 others were wounded, according to state media.

The smugglers opened fire when the group refused to pay them, according to Egypt's official MENA news agency.

Egypt's interior ministry confirmed that an investigation was under way into the incident, though its casualty figures differed. An official at the ministry told CNN that two Eritreans were killed on Egypt's border with Israel, and that three people were wounded. Fifteen others were arrested by Egyptian border police.

In total, the group consisted of three-dozen African migrants attempting to flee into Israel, the official said.