Terror Attack on Mosque in Egypt’s North Sinai Kills At Least 200 Worshippers

CAIRO- At least 200 worshippers have been killed by gunmen who attacked a mosque in Egypt’s North Sinai, official sources told the Egyptian state news agency MENA, making the attack one of the deadliest targeting civilians in the country in recent year.

Ahran Online reported that the sources said at least 125 people were injured in the attack that targeted Al Rawdah mosque in Bir Al-Abed, in the west of Arish city.

 The president’s office has announced a nationwide three-day mourning following the terrorist attack, state TV has reported.

According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Al-Ahram’s Arabic website, the gunmen fired heavily on worshippers after improvised explosive devices were detonated at the mosque.

Health ministry sources in the governorate said 30 ambulances were deployed to the scene to transport the injured to Arish Bir Al-Abed and Arish General hospitals.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is set to hold a meeting with a security committee to discuss the repercussions of the terrorist attack.

Egypt’s security forces have been fighting terrorist groups based in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula which has gained pace since the 2013 ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi.

Terrorist acts have mostly targeted security forces, with attacks on military and police checkpoints commonplace.

H.M