Egypt says killed a number of Sinai mosque attackers

By Hussein Qabani

CAIRO

A number of attackers involved in a deadly mosque bombing in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula has been killed, according to a military spokesman.

At least 235 people were killed and scores injured when attackers bombed a mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed in North Sinai and then opened fire on fleeing worshippers on Friday.

In a statement, army spokesman Tamer Rifai said warplanes had chased a number of militants following the attack.

“A number of vehicles involved in the deadly terrorist attack were spotted and destroyed and those on board were killed,” the spokesman said on Saturday.

He said Egyptian troops had attacked a number of “terrorist spots” in the area.

“Law enforcement forces, in cooperation with air forces, are combing other terrorist spots,” the spokesman added.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in modern memory.

Egyptian authorities have declared a three day of mourning with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowing a firm response to the deadly attack.

The Sinai Peninsula has remained the epicenter of a militant insurgency since mid-2013, when the army ousted and imprisoned Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, in a military coup.
Hundreds of security forces and civilians have been killed in the insurgency, which has been largely confined to the desert region.