184 people killed in Egypt mosque attack

At least 184 people were killed and scores of others injured in a gory terror attack on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai region on Friday, Egyptian state TV reported, making it one of the deadliest ever carried out against civilians in the province. The assailants planted home-made explosive in the al-Rawdah mosque in the town of Bir al-Abd, near Arish, and detonated them as worshipers were leaving after prayers. They also shot at anyone who tried to escape, a security official told Efe news.

Egyptians walk past bodies following a gun and bombing attack at the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, on November 24, 2017. A bomb explosion ripped through the mosque before gunmen opened fire on the worshippers gathered for weekly Friday prayers, officials said. Pic courtesy/AFP

Besides the 184 dead, at least 125 people were injured in the horrific attack. Pictures from the scene showed rows of bloodied victims inside the mosque. The blasts from improvised explosive devices caused considerable damage to the mosque, Al Ahram Online said.

Speaking to state-run Masriya TV, Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Khalid Mujahid described the incident as a "terrorist attack". One report said the target appeared to be supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi was meeting with a security committee to discuss the bloodbath.

Egypt declared three days of national mourning. No group has claimed responsibility for the massacre.