Bedouin trying to smuggle Russian women into Israel killed by Egyptian police

Egyptian police engaged in a gun battle with an armed group of Beduins attempting to smuggle Russian women into Israel Saturday, killing one of the group, reports Israel Radio.

The Egyptian Interior Ministry said Egyptian border police fired shots into the air in a bid to stop the group, but they were fired upon by the Bedouins. A gun battle broke out, killing a 22-year-old Bedouin. Two other Bedouins fled the scene in four wheel-drive vehicles with the group of women.

Police later arrested two young Russian women and ordered them detained for 15 days. In the last month, six Eqyptians have been arrested on suspicion of assisting foreigners crossing illegally into Israel. Women from Eastern Europe have been smuggled into Israel from Egypt as part of the illicit Israeli sex trade.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Jerusalem Post Internet Staff