ETHIOPIAN forces “executed” three workers from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) while they were carrying out an aid mission in the country’s war torn Tigray region, a senior MSF official says.

MSF told the BBC that the incident, which took place four years ago, saw the killing of two Ethiopians and a Spanish national at the height of the now ended conflict in Tigray.

Yohannes Haleform Reda, Tedros Gebremariam and Maria Hernandez Matas were killed on June 21 2021 while travelling in central Tigray to assess ongoing medical needs of the population.

Raquel Ayora, MSF Spain’s general director, said the information that the charity had gathered from satellite images, witnesses and other sources showed the three were intentionally targeted.

“They were executed. They were facing their attackers and were shot at very close range several times.”

Ms Ayora added that the three were clearly identifiable in MSF vests and their vehicle had the MSF logo on either side of the vehicle.

MSF said it was now releasing the findings as the Ethiopian government had failed to provide a “credible account” of the incident despite numerous meetings on the issue.

The Ethiopian government has previously denied its troops were involved in the incident and has not responded to invitations to respond to the MSF accusation.