At least 85 worshipers killed in Egypt mosque attack

CAIRO - At least 85 worshippers were killed after gunmen attacked a mosque in North Sinai following Friday prayers, official sources told state agency MENA.

MENA also said the injury toll has reached 80. Earlier, the Egyptian health ministry said that at least 75 people were injured following the terror attack.

The president’s office has announced a nationwide three-day mourning following the terrorist attack, state TV has reported.

According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Al-Ahram’s Arabic website, the gunmen fired heavily on worshippers after improvised explosive devices were detonated at the mosque.

The attack targeted Al Rawdah mosque in Bir Al-Abed, in the west of Arish province.

Health ministry sources in the governorate said 30 ambulances were deployed to the scene to transport the injured to Arish Bir Al-Abed and Arish General hospitals.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is set to hold a meeting with a security committee to discuss the repercussions of the terrorist attack. 

Egypt's security forces have been fighting an Islamist insurgency based in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula which has gained pace since the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The insurgency has mostly targeted security forces, with attacks on military and police checkpoints commonplace. However, terrorist groups have also periodically targeted civilians in Cairo and other parts of the country.