Egypt’s Army conducts air strikes at suspected militant hideouts after mosque attack leaves 235 dead
The toll in the attack on a mosque in Egypt’s North Sinai province has risen to 305, with 27 children among the dead, AP reported on Saturday. At least 128 people were injured after militants set off a bomb and opened fire at the Al Rawdah Mosque in Bir al-Abed, around 50 km west of North Sinai Capital El-Arish.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Earlier in the day, the Egyptian Army said the country’s air force had destroyed the vehicles used in Friday’s attack, AFP reported. The Egyptian air force had destroyed a terrorist location where ammunition and weapons were stocked, Army spokesperson Tamer el-Refai said.
The military said it had conducted air strikes in several mountainous areas surrounding Al Rawdah mosque, where militants were believed to be hiding out, Reuters reported.
This is one of the deadliest ever attacks in the region. Images on social media showed bloodied bodies covered with sheets.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pledged to respond with brutal force. “The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force,” Sisi said in a televised address. The president declared three days of national mourning.
At least a dozen attackers in four off-road vehicles charged in to the mosque during Friday prayers, opening fire at worshippers, AP reported. The attackers had fired rocket-propelled grenades and shot people who were trying to escape the building.
United States President Donald Trump condemned the attack, calling it “horrible and cowardly”. “The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!” he said on Twitter. “We have to get TOUGHER AND SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN! God bless the people of Egypt.”
Horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers in Egypt. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017
Will be calling the President of Egypt in a short while to discuss the tragic terrorist attack, with so much loss of life. We have to get TOUGHER AND SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN! God bless the people of Egypt.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017
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