Egypt strikes ‘terrorist’ locations

The death toll in a horrific terror strike on a mosque in Egypt’s northern Sinai region has climbed to 305 as the military kicked off a hunt for the attackers and responded with airstrikes at “terrorist” locations and vehicles, reports IANS.

President Abdel Fattah elSisi vowed to respond to the gory attack on Al Rawdah mosque, affiliated with Sufi groups, with “brute force”.

More than 100 people were injured, the BBC reported. The mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed during Friday prayers and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down.

No group has yet claimed the massacre, one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the country.

“What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism,” Sisi said in a televised address.

“The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force.” Hours after the massacre, “terrorist spots”, where weapons and ammunition were reportedly stocked, had been bombed by Air Force jets in response.

An Army spokesperson said that several vehicles used in the attack had been located and destroyed.

Dozens of gunmen surrounded the mosque in vehicles and opened fire on those trying to escape after bombs were set off. The militants were reported to have set parked vehicles on fire in the vicinity to block off access to the mosque and fired upon ambulances trying to help victims.

Hours after the massacre,“terrorist spots”, where weapons and ammunition were reportedly stocked, had been bombed by Air Force jets in response