An Egyptian bus driver working for a private construction company shot dead six labourers today and injured as many as 12 others in a suburb of Cairo, the official MENA news agency reported.
Mahmoud Taha Swellem (46) opened fire with an automatic rifle on the workers who were travelling in a bus belonging to Egyptian construction firm Arab Contractors, MENA reported.
An Arab Contractors official confirmed the shooting. A security source also said six were killed but added only six others were injured, not 12 as reported by MENA.
The man was arrested by police and was now under investigation, MENA said. The report did not give a motive. The incident took place on a highway 15km south of Cairo, the security source said, adding that the driver was taking 23 employees from their homes to work when he stopped the bus in the middle of the road and opened fire.
There were women employees in the bus but none was killed or injured, the source said, adding that the victims included a financial manager and a department head.
Reuters