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In yet another terrorist led war "Islamic State" is believed to have targeted a mosque in the north of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 305 people and wounding hundreds so far. The death toll includes over 27 children according to Egypt's state prosecutor.
Reports state that hortly after the noon prayer on Friday, dozens of men in four vehicles surrounded the Al Rawdah mosque, around 40 kilometers west of the provincial capital, Arish, before planting explosives. After the explosives went off, the attackers opened fire at those who tried to flee. Assaulters fired using automatic rifles in the brutal attack against families mainly civilians. The Al Rawdah Sufi mosque in Bir al-Abed, is a famous site for Sufi’s.
“The attackers arrived in five SUVs and were armed with automatic machine guns”, the statement released by officials read. The attackers first captivated the front of the mosque and all its entrances. All the attackers stationed themselves at the mosque’s main door and 12 windows and then together opened fire on all worshippers inside.They all had long beards and long hair, also they were wearing military wear and were armed with heavy machine guns. An ISIS flag was also seen on at least of the attackers who entered the Mosque.
Al Rawdah mosque is the birthplace of an important Sufi cleric. Sufism is a mystical division of Islamic religion, which for some jihadists is considered as a heretical theology. The mosque is attended by Sufis who are the followers of of Sunni Islamic sect. Islamic extremists consider Sufis as heretics. No group has yet claimed the responsibility for this barbaric attack, but it hints all the signs of the "Islamic State" (IS).
Egyptian warplanes conducted airstrikes on "terrorist outposts" and vehicles in retaliation of the attack, according the Egyptian military. "The Egyptian Air Force pursued the terrorist elements, discovered and destroyed a number of vehicles that carried out the brutal terrorist killings, and killed all terrorists inside those vehicles," military spokesman Tamer Rifai said in a statement.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, vowed to respond to the massacre. "This terrorist act will strengthen our resolve, steadfastness and will to stand up to, resist and battle against terrorism. This act will only increase our will and unity,” he said. “The police and military will avenge our martyrs and restore peace and security. We will respond with brute force to combat these terrorists and deviants ... This is an attempt to deter us from fighting terrorism and to destroy our will, but we are steadfast, and I say to all Egyptians, the battle you are fighting is the most honorable.”
By Minu Manisha
