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Egypt mosque attack: At least 184 killed in Sinai Egypt attack: More than 230 killed in Sinai mosque
(about 1 hour later)
Suspected militants have launched a bomb and gun attack on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province, killing at least 184 people, state media say. Militants have launched a bomb and gun attack on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province, killing 235 people, state media say.
Witnesses say the al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed, near al-Arish, was targeted during Friday prayers.Witnesses say the al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed, near al-Arish, was targeted during Friday prayers.
Local police said men in four off-road vehicles opened fire on worshippers, AP reported. It is the deadliest attack of its kind since an Islamist insurgency in the peninsula was stepped up in 2013.
Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency in the region, which has intensified since 2013. Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has held emergency talks with security officials to decide how to respond.
There have been regular attacks blamed on militants on the Sinai peninsula, but this is the deadliest assault of its kind. What happened?
Pictures from the scene show rows of bloodied victims inside the mosque. At least 125 people were also wounded, reports say. Local police said gunmen arrived in four off-road vehicles and bombed the packed mosque before opening fire on worshippers, the Associated Press reported.
One report said the target appeared to be supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. Pictures from the scene show rows of bloodied victims inside the mosque. At least 100 people were wounded, reports say.
Locals are also quoted as saying that followers of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, regularly gathered at the mosque. "They were shooting at people as they left the mosque," a local resident who had relatives there told Reuters news agency. "They were shooting at the ambulances too."
Islamist jihadist groups, including so-called Islamic State (IS), see Sufis as heretics. No group has yet claimed responsibility for what is one of the deadliest militant attacks in modern Egyptian history.
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is to meet security officials to discuss the incident, Egypt's private Extra News TV reported. Who was targeted?
It is not yet known who was behind Friday's attack. Locals are quoted as saying that followers of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, regularly gathered at the mosque.
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. Some jihadist groups, including so-called Islamic State (IS), see Sufis as heretics.
An unprecedented attack
By Sally Nabil, BBC News, Cairo
Islamist militants have been operating in northern Sinai for several years, mainly targeting security forces.
But this is the first time that worshippers inside a mosque have been targeted. The number of victims is unprecedented for an attack of this type.
Northern Sinai has been living under a media blackout over the past few years. No media organisations have been allowed to go there, including state-sponsored ones.
The frequency of attacks raises doubts about the effectiveness of military operations. While the army releases statements every now and then, claiming victory in some parts of Sinai, there seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing battle between the army and militants.
What is going on in the Sinai peninsula?
Militant Islamists have been waging an insurgency there in recent years, stepping up attacks after Egypt's military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi after mass anti-government protests 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 IS.Hundreds of police, soldiers and civilians have been killed since then, mostly in attacks carried out by Sinai Province group, which is affiliated to IS.
In September, at least 18 policemen were killed in an attack on a convoy near al-Arish by militants affiliated with the group. In September, at least 18 policemen were killed when the group attacked a convoy near al-Arish.
The jihadists have also killed dozens of people in attacks targeting Egypt's Coptic Christian minority elsewhere in the country, and claimed they planted the bomb that brought down a Russian plane carrying tourists in Sinai in 2015, killing 224 people on board. Sinai Province has also carried out deadly attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christian minority elsewhere in the country, and said it bombed a Russian plane carrying tourists in Sinai in 2015, killing 224 people on board.
It has been operating mainly in North Sinai, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, when 33 security personnel were killed in an attack claimed by the group.
Sinai Province is thought to want to take control of the Sinai Peninsula in order to turn it into an Islamist province run by IS.
What has the reaction been?
President Sisi has declared three days of mourning.
Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the attack as a "terrifying crime which again shows that Islam is innocent of those who follow extremist terrorist ideology".
UK Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: "Appalled by the sickening attack on a mosque in North Sinai. Condolences with all those in #Egypt affected by this evil and cowardly act."