Terrorists Attack Mosque in Sinai, Egypt
On November 24 2017 a bomb ripped through a mosque in Sinai Egypt as terrorists opened fire on those finishing Friday prayer at Egypts al-Rawdah mosque.305 people were killed including 27 children and 120 people were left wounded in what was the deadliest attack in the countrys recent history.The bloody attack was a cruel turning point for the country.
While attacks had been common since 2013 when the current president overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood targeting mosques is rare in Egypt.Terrorists had previously targeted Coptic Christian churches and security forces but generally avoided mosques.This mosque was made up primarily of Sufi Muslims a mystic sect of Islam that strives for direct personal connections to God.
They are hated by ISIS.Just days before the prophet Muhammads birthday the mosque was packed with worshippers.Suddenly 25 to 30 militants pulled up in four off-road vehicles.
They fired on worshippers from the mosques main door and 12 large windows.Adding to the horror several bombs and rocket-propelled grenades went off as worshippers tried to flee.The gunmen set fire to cars parked outside the mosque and shot at arriving ambulances to hinder escape.
While no group took responsibility evidence pointed to ISIS.In an interview published in an Islamic State magazine a commander in Sinai outlined the groups hatred for Sufis and identified Rawda as a target.In an address given on television Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed that the governments would respond with brute force.
Security had been a key reason for his supporters to back him and with a possible re election on the horizon retaliation was expected.Hours after the attack Egypts military launched airstrikes on targets in mountainous areas around the city and three days of national mourning were declared.
