Eight Killed in Shooting Linked to Illegal Gold Mining Dispute in Egypt

Eight people were killed and another injured after a gunman opened fire during a dispute among illegal gold miners in Egypt’s eastern desert near Safaga, security sources said.

The shooting took place inside a remote cave in the mountainous المنطقة of the Red Sea Governorate, where groups of unlicensed prospectors had gathered in search of gold. Initial investigations suggest that an argument broke out over control of a التعدين site believed to contain valuable deposits.

The dispute escalated when one man reportedly pulled out an automatic rifle and opened fire indiscriminately, killing eight people at the scene and injuring another.

Authorities said the suspect fled in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, attempting to escape through rugged desert terrain. Security forces quickly responded, sealing off the area and coordinating with police units to track him down.

The suspect was arrested within hours. Officials confirmed that the weapon used in the attack, along with the vehicle and materials recovered from the site, were seized.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly confessed, citing disagreements over profit-sharing and excavation rights as the motive behind the attack.

An investigation is ongoing into the incident, which highlights the dangers associated with illegal mining operations in remote desert regions.