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184 dead, scores injured in bomb & gun attack at northern Sinai mosque 200 dead, scores injured in bomb & gun attack at northern Sinai mosque (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)
(35 minutes later)
184 people have been killed in a coordinated bomb and gun attack in northern Sinai, Egypt, according to state TV. More than 100 were also injured in the blast. Egyptian state TV has confirmed 200 people have been killed in a coordinated bomb and gun attack in northern Sinai. Some 125 others were injured.
The explosion took place in the vicinity of a mosque during Friday prayer and was accompanied by an armed attack carried out by suspected militants, Reuters reports, citing eyewitnesses and security sources.The explosion took place in the vicinity of a mosque during Friday prayer and was accompanied by an armed attack carried out by suspected militants, Reuters reports, citing eyewitnesses and security sources.
Witnesses said the explosive device was detonated next to the Al-Rawdah mosque in the center of the town of Bir al-Abd, according to Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm. Those fleeing the mosque were then reportedly attacked by gunmen. State media showed images of bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of the city of El Arish. Those fleeing the mosque were then reportedly attacked by gunmen.
Eyewitnesses reported ambulances transporting injured people to nearby hospitals. Local media is reporting that the ambulances also came under attack by the gunmen.Eyewitnesses reported ambulances transporting injured people to nearby hospitals. Local media is reporting that the ambulances also came under attack by the gunmen.
The office of Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi has declared three days of mourning, according to Shorouk News. "They were shooting at people as they left the mosque," a local resident, whose relatives were at the scene, told Reuters. "They were shooting at the ambulances too."
Arabiya news channel and some local sources said some of the worshippers were Sufis, who hardliners such as Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) regard as apostates because they revere saints and shrines, which for Islamists is tantamount to idolatry.
The office of Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi has declared three days of mourning, according to Shorouk News. State TV reports five militants were involved in the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent condolences to the Egyptian president, describing Friday’s attack as cruel and cynical.
The sparsely-populated Sinai peninsula has been the scene of numerous clashes between government forces and armed movements. President El-Sisi described it as a "nesting ground for terrorism” following a suicide bombing that killed 31 soldiers in 2014.The sparsely-populated Sinai peninsula has been the scene of numerous clashes between government forces and armed movements. President El-Sisi described it as a "nesting ground for terrorism” following a suicide bombing that killed 31 soldiers in 2014.
In October, 24 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants and six Egyptian soldiers were killed in a series of coordinated attacks on checkpoints.In October, 24 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants and six Egyptian soldiers were killed in a series of coordinated attacks on checkpoints.