The 235 dead and 109 wounded, including many children, is the tragic death toll in a bomb blast at the al-Rawda mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of Aris and near Mount Sinai. International agencies report that the attack took place in two phases. First, explosive devices were detonated and then about 40 gunmen were found outside the mosque and gassed those worshipers who were running to be saved.
The Egyptian government declared three days of mourning after the attack.
Local media reported that in parallel with the explosion of the device, the perpetrators opened fire on the crowd, including men of the Egyptian security services who are praying at the mosque in northern Sinai.
Eyewitnesses described on television that they saw ambulances transporting victims of the attack from the scene to nearby hospitals. At the same time, the Egyptian authorities immediately closed the Rafah border crossing, which had just opened.
The perpetrators of the attack were reportedly riding in four vans and opened fire on the crowd.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi convened an emergency cabinet meeting after the deadly attack and declared three days of mourning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus strongly condemns "the heinous terrorist attack against an innocent population", which took place today in Al-Arish, in northern Sinai, Egypt. In a statement, the Foreign Minister said that the Government and the people of Cyprus express their deepest condolences to the Egyptian Government and to the families and relatives of the victims and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.
"The Cypriot Government reiterates its solidarity and practical support to the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and to the Egyptian people, who are suffering from acts of terrorism aimed at destabilizing the country, and who are at the forefront of efforts to fight against terrorism, both within the country and in the region. "
"People cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat it militarily and eliminate the extremist ideology that underlies it." This was written on twitter by US President Donald Trump, who sent condolences to the families of the victims.
"I was shocked to learn of the tragic attack on the Al-Rawdah Mosque in Sinai earlier today," said President Juncker in Brussels. "I would like to express my sincere condolences to the people of Egypt and to President al-Sisi," he said.
"I strongly condemn this barbaric and cowardly act that deliberately targets peaceful and innocent people in their place of worship," said JK Juncker. "In these dark times, Egypt can rightly be proud of the heroic and courageous actions of the security and emergency services on the ground," he said.
"Europe stands by you today in solidarity, just as you did with us in the past. You can count on our support ", concluded the President of the Commission.