Sinai Mosque Attack: 150+ Dead & Injured in N Egypt

Local Editor

Terrorists stormed a packed mosque in the Bir al-Abd region of north Sinai, Egypt, as worshippers were carrying out Friday prayers at Al-Rawdah mosque.

Reports state a few minutes after prayers finished a bomb was exploded inside the building.

Gunmen then arrived in 4x4 cars before opening fire into the fleeing crowds.

The attackers themselves then fled into the desert - leaving dozens dead.

Local media reports the blast came from a suicide bomber.

Officials have not yet released an official death toll as ambulances continue to ferry victims from the scene.
Initial reports suggest as many as 50 dead according to eye witnesses.

Security sources said the people inside the mosque were friends and family of the security forces.

No groups has yet claimed responsibility for the attack - but the region is rocked by extremist Takfiri groups.

Egypt has been battling an extremist insurgency in region since the Arab Spring and overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Militants in the Sinai Peninsula have declared allegiance to the Wahhabi Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] since 2014 and carried out a number of attacks.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team