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Rabat – Moroccan-Belgian actor Abdelkrim Kessi is mourning the death of his little cousin Bilal Kessi who was shot dead by Algerian coast guards on Tuesday.
The tragedy took place when four Moroccan-French tourists were enjoying a jet ski ride in Saidia before being swept away to Algerian waters.
“They killed Bilal Kissi, my little cousin,” BBC quoted the actor saying.
Calling on Moroccan authorities to bring the case to international courts, the actor said his cousin’s “only fault was crossing the Algerian territorial waters” when he was enjoying his vacation with his friends.
In addition to Bilal Kessi, another victim was also killed by Algerian coast guards, who fired five bullets on the two murdered men.
One of the French-Moroccan tourists is now under arrest in Algeria, while the body of another was seized by Algerian authorities.
The body of Bilal was recovered by Moroccan authorities after a fisherman discovered his lifeless corp floating in Moroccan waters following the murder.
Mohammed Kessi, the brother of deceased Bilal and also a survivor of the Algerian coast guards’ attack spoke about the tragedy to the press, rejecting news that he, his friends, and brother had attempted to flee when they were approached by Algerian coast services.
“On the contrary, I saw my brother talking to them. I don’t know what they were talking about,” he said, further suggesting that his brother was engaging with the Alerian guards in an attempt to seek help about how the lost jet ski riders could return to Moroccan waters.
Read also: Jet Ski Tragedy: Victim’s Brother Accuses Algerian Coast Guards of Premeditated Murder
“I saw my brother showing me the way with his hands. When we were heading back, the coast guards opened fire on us. Five bullets were fired on my brother and my friend,” the survivor said.
“I wasn’t injured, but they killed my brother and my friend,” he said.
Mohammed Kessi was rescued by Moroccan coast guards when he was trying to swim to a safe place.
The tragedy has been making rounds on the internet, with more testimonies from the survivors appearing on Thursday.
France confirmed the death of the Moroccan French dual citizen as well as the incarceration of another compatriot in Algeria, in an “incident involving several of our nationals.”
However, the French Foreign Ministry has not specified the circumstances of the death, noting that the crisis and support center of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs as well as embassies in Morocco and Algeria are in “close contact with the families of our fellow citizens,to whom we provide all our support.”
