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Egypt mosque attack: state TV raises death toll to 155 Egypt mosque attack: state TV raises death toll to 184
(35 minutes later)
At least 155 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a devastating bomb and gun attack targeting a mosque in Egypt’s north Sinai, state television has reported. At least 184 people have been killed and scores more injured in a bomb and gun attack targeting a mosque in Egypt’s north Sinai, state television has reported.
More than 50 ambulances ferried casualties from the scene to nearby hospitals after the attack on al-Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of Arish city. At least 85 people were injured, the Mena news agency reported. The death toll rose repeatedly on Friday afternoon as more details emerged.More than 50 ambulances ferried casualties from the scene to nearby hospitals after the attack on al-Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of Arish city. At least 85 people were injured, the Mena news agency reported. The death toll rose repeatedly on Friday afternoon as more details emerged.
Militants in four off-road vehicles approached the mosque as Friday prayers were finishing and opened fire at worshippers, a military source told the Guardian. Investigation teams from the army and police are roaming the area and “chasing down the perpetrators”, he added. The bomb ripped through the mosque as Friday prayers were finishing, then militants in four off-road vehicles approached and opened fire on worshippers, a military source told the Guardian. Investigation teams from the army and police were dispersed in the area and were “chasing down the perpetrators”, he said.
No group claimed responsibility for the assault, but it was the deadliest yet in the region where for three years Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State insurgency that has killed hundreds of police and soldiers. No group claimed responsibility for the assault, but it was the deadliest yet in a region where, for the last three years, Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State insurgency that has killed hundreds of police and soldiers.
An eyewitness said by phone that he ran to towards the scene after hearing a big blast and shots being fired. Local people rushed to find their relatives, as bodies were wrapped in cloth were laid out on the road, the witness added. A witness said by phone that he ran to towards the scene after hearing a blast and shots being fired. People rushed to find their relatives, as bodies wrapped in cloth were laid out on the road, the witness said.
A local resident whose relatives were at the scene told Reuters that the gunmen shot at people as they left the mosque, and also at the ambulances. One resident whose relatives were at the scene told Reuters that the attackers shot at people as they left the mosque, and also at the ambulances.
Local people said some of the worshippers were sufis – regarded by hardliners such as Islamic State as apostates because they revere saints and shrines, which for Islamists is tantamount to idolatry. People said some of the worshippers were Sufis, who are regarded by hardline Islamists as apostates because they revere saints and shrines.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, a former armed forces commander who presents himself as a bulwark against Islamist militants in the region, convened an emergency security meeting soon after the attack, state television said. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, a former armed forces commander who presents himself as a bulwark against Islamist militants in the region, convened an emergency security meeting after the attack, state television said.
Militants have mostly targeted security forces in their attacks since bloodshed in the Sinai worsened after 2013 when Sisi, then an armed forces commander, led the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Militant attacks have mostly targeted security forces since bloodshed in the Sinai worsened after Sisi led the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.
But jihadis have also targeted local Sinai tribes that are working with the armed forces, branding them traitors for cooperating with the army and police. But jihadis have also targeted Sinai tribes that are working with the armed forces, branding them traitors for their cooperation.
In July this year, at least 23 soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs hit two military checkpoints in the Sinai, an attack claimed by Islamic State. In July, at least 23 soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs hit two military checkpoints in the Sinai, an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility.
Militants have tried to expand beyond the largely barren, desert Sinai Peninsula into Egypt’s heavily populated mainland, hitting Coptic Christian churches and pilgrims. Militants have tried to expand beyond the largely barren, desert Sinai Peninsula into Egypt’s heavily populated mainland, attacking Coptic Christian churches and pilgrims.
In May, gunmen attacked a Coptic group travelling to a monastery in southern Egypt, killing 29.In May, gunmen attacked a Coptic group travelling to a monastery in southern Egypt, killing 29.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this reportReuters and Associated Press contributed to this report