Egyptian officials say troops and police mistakenly fired on a Bedouin funeral in the Sinai during a sweep searching for security personnel kidnapped by suspected militants.
A security official said a senior military officer offered an apology to the family of the dead man, who had drowned.
Security officials initially reported the incident as a clash with gunmen. The officials say police and troops had believed the funeral convoy of eight pickup trucks was carrying gunmen who refused orders to stop. The troops opened fire, and some among the mourners fired back before the mourners fled. The officials said one dead body was left behind, and troops believed they had killed him.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media.
