Egypt enters national mourning after mosque attack

World
Europe

A three-day period of national mourning is underway in Egypt, following an attack on a mosque in the northern Sinai region that killed 305 worshippers.

The government said it was a well-coordinated gun and bomb attack by extremists on Friday and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has pledged that it won’t go unpunished. Among the dead were 27 children while another 128 people were wounded.

Egypt has been traumatized by the attack, which was unprecedented in the country’s modern history. Hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed and wounded while praying in a mosque in north Sinai after militants detonated a bomb and sprayed the worshippers with gunfire for some 20 minutes.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi (at head of table) during a meeting with government members on the attack in north Sinai, in Cairo on Friday. /Reuters Photo

“I was outside the mosque, and suddenly, I heard gunshots inside, “said Abdullah Suleiman, speaking from his hospital bed. ”I saw them running, and I went inside the mosque, I found all of the people climbing on top of each other. They were trying to get out of the mosque because they were afraid. And I was trying to get out, and a bullet entered my leg.”

“Entire families have been killed during this attack inside the mosque. And families who were outside the mosque in the Rawda village were also attacked,” said Diaa Rashwan, Chairman of the Egypt State Information Service. “These groups have lost the power to attack security checkpoints as they used to. Now they’re starting to attack a mosque for the first time in Egypt in 200 years.”

In the hours after the attack, no group had claimed responsibility, although some of the militants reportedly carried ISIL flags. After meeting the country’s top security officials, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi addressed the nation announcing the three days of mourning.

People standing on Saturday outside Al Rawdah mosque, where a bomb exploded, in Bir Al-Abed, Egypt the day before. /Reuters Photo‍

“This attack will only increase our persistence and will strengthen our unity,” he said.” The Armed Forces and the police will revenge our martyrs, restore security and stability with extreme force in the coming short period.”

According to officials, the military conducted several airstrikes in the Al Areesh region, destroying vehicles used in the attack as well as weapons warehouses. They also targeted mountainous areas believed to be where militants were hiding.

The attack comes one week before the Islamic world marks the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. Mosques should have been getting ready with decorations to celebrate. Instead an entire country is in mourning.

7547km