Egypt teen shot dead near border with Israel and Gaza

ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - A 13-year-old Egyptian girl was shot and killed on Thursday near an Israeli-controlled border junction between Egypt, Israel and the Gaza Strip, Egyptian residents and medical sources said.

Residents in the border area said Samah Nayef Abu Garrad was shot in the head as she played outside her home, about 700 metres from the Kerem Shalom border terminal. Medical sources later said she had died.

Egyptian security officials, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, confirmed the girl was shot. They declined to comment on the source of the fire, saying that would have to be determined by an investigation.

A cousin of the girl, tribal leader Sheikh Darwish Abu Garrad, said the gunfire appeared to have come "from the direction of Israel".

The Israeli army said it was checking the report.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed; Writing by Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Matthew Jones)