A single gunman killed 15 people in a village near Banha, Egypt, in one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern Egyptian history.
Key Facts
- Date
- 21 August 2013
- Fatalities
- 15 (plus the shooter)
- Weapon used
- AKMS assault rifle
- Perpetrator's age
- 28 years old
- Perpetrator's prior record
- Involved in deaths of 23 people in 2008 family feud
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Omar Abdul Razeq Abdullah Rifai, a 28-year-old unemployed poultry dealer and ex-convict, had previously been implicated in the deaths of 23 people during a family feud in 2008. Shortly after being released from his sentence, he returned to the village of Meet al-Attar near Banha, Egypt, setting the stage for further violence.
On 21 August 2013, Rifai opened fire on villagers in Meet al-Attar using an AKMS assault rifle, fatally shooting 15 people and reportedly wounding several others. The attack took place in a small village near Banha in Egypt's Qalyubia Governorate.
Villagers shot and killed Rifai before authorities could apprehend him. The shooting drew attention to Egypt's ongoing struggles with community feuds, access to military-grade weapons, and the risks posed by released violent offenders without adequate rehabilitation or monitoring.