An image taken with a mobile phone shows a victim being taken care of in a hospital in Ismailia, Egypt, after a bomb attack at Al-Rawdah Mosque in Bir al-Abd, Egypt. Photo: CNS Egypt’s Coptic Christians – often the target of Islamist violence in the country – have pledged solidarity and support after a deadly terror attack on a mosque in Sinai which left at least 305 worshippers dead.
Pope Tawadros II, along with all members of the Coptic Church, extended their condolences to the victims’ families, a statement by the Church read, adding that it hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured.
Armed militants stormed the Sufi al-Rawda mosque in North Sinai’s al-Arish during Friday prayers detonating explosives and shooting worshippers.
Solidarity
The Coptic Pope announced that bells would ring out at Christian churches all over the country to express solidarity. While no group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, Egyptian authorities say they believe members of so-called Islamic State were responsible.
Sufi Muslims have frequently been targeted by Islamic extremists who consider the Sufis to be heretics.