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Egypt Sinai: Bomb and gun attack on mosque 'kills 85' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Suspected militants have launched a bomb and gun attack on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province, killing 85 people, the state news agency says. | |
Witnesses told Egyptian media it happened in the town of Bir al-Abed near al-Arish during Friday prayers. | Witnesses told Egyptian media it happened in the town of Bir al-Abed near al-Arish during Friday prayers. |
Local police said men in four off-road vehicles opened fire on worshippers, AP reported. | Local police said men in four off-road vehicles opened fire on worshippers, AP reported. |
Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency in the region, which has intensified since 2013. | Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency in the region, which has intensified since 2013. |
Some 80 people were also wounded in the attack, health officials said. | |
One report said the target appeared to be supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. | One report said the target appeared to be supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. |
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is to meet security officials to discuss the incident, Egypt's private Extra News TV reported. | President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is to meet security officials to discuss the incident, Egypt's private Extra News TV reported. |
It is not yet known who was behind Friday's attack. | |
Jihadist militants have been waging an insurgency in recent years, stepping up attacks after Egypt's military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013. | |
Hundreds of police, soldiers and civilians have been killed since then, mostly in attacks carried out by Sinai Province group, which is affiliated to so-called Islamic State (IS). |