Mexico confirms that eight Mexicans died in Egypt

Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that that embassy personnel in Egypt have identified six more bodies as those of Mexican citizens killed in air attack by Egyptian police and military forces. The deaths of two Mexicans had earlier been confirmed, bringing the total number of Mexicans killed to eight.

Six other Mexicans were injured in the attack. A total of 14 or 15 Mexicans were traveling on a desert oasis tour at the time.

Egyptian forces hunting militants in the country's western desert mistakenly opened fire on several vehicles used by Mexican tourists, killing 12 people on Sunday. The other dead are believed to be Egyptians.

Mexico's Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu is traveling to Cairo to bring the survivors and remains of the victims back to Mexico.

Jorge Álvarez Fuentes, Mexico's ambassador to Egypt, told local media on Monday that two dead Mexican citizens in the attack in Egypt have been identified as Luis Barajas Fernández and María de Lourdes Fernández Rubio. A third Mexican citizen, Rafael Bejarano, was confirmed dead by his sister, who said she had been informed of his death by his travelling companions. 

Bejarano's business partner, Rachel Stewart of San Clemente, California, says the Egyptian trip of about 15 friends was organized by Bejarano's mother, Marisela. Stewart says Marisela, who also took part in the trip, was recovering from wounds suffered in the attack.

Stewart said Monday that the trip was planned as a sort of spiritual retreat, and that Marisela regularly organized similar trips.