Militants kill more than 230 at Sinai mosque in Egypt's deadliest attack

[rooster59]

Militants kill more than 230 at Sinai mosque in Egypt's deadliest attack

By Ahmed Tolba and Patrick Markey

 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is seen during a meeting with government members on the attack in North Sinai, in Cairo, Egypt, November 24, 2017 in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS

 

CAIRO (Reuters) - Militants killed more than 230 people at a mosque in North Sinai on Friday, detonating a bomb and gunning down worshippers in the deadliest such attack in Egypt's modern history, state media and witnesses said.

 

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but since 2013 Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State affiliate in the mainly desert region, and militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers.

 

State media showed images of bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of El Arish, the main city in North Sinai.

 

Worshippers were finishing Friday prayers at the mosque when a bomb exploded, witnesses said. Around 40 gunmen set up positions outside the mosque with jeeps and opened fire from different directions as people tried to escape.

 

"Four groups of armed men attacked the worshippers inside the mosque after Friday noon prayers. Two groups were firing at ambulances to deter them, said Mohamed, a witness.

 

The public prosecutors' office said in a statement 235 people had been killed and 109 more wounded.

 

Hours after the attack, Egypt's military launched air strikes on targets in mountainous areas around Bir al-Abed, security sources and witnesses said.

 

"The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force," Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a televised address.

 

"What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism, to destroy our efforts to stop the terrible criminal plan that aims to destroy what is left of our region."

 

Egypt later said it would delay the opening of the Rafah border crossing to Gaza after the attack due to security concerns. The crossing had been due to open for three days beginning on Saturday.

 

Striking at a mosque would be a change in tactics for the Sinai militants, who have usually attacked troops and police and Christian churches.

 

SUFI MUSLIMS

 

Arabiya news channel and some local sources said some of the worshippers were Sufis, whom groups such as Islamic State consider targets because they revere saints and shrines, which for Islamists is tantamount to idolatry.

 

The jihadists have also attacked local tribes and their militias for working with the army and police, branding them traitors.

 

The Sinai branch is one of Islamic State's surviving branches following the collapse of its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq after military defeats by U.S.-backed forces.

 

Sisi, a former armed forces commander who presents himself as a bulwark against Islamist militancy, convened an emergency meeting with his defence and interior ministers and intelligence chief soon after the attack.

 

Security has long been one of the key sources of public support for the former general, who is expected to run for re-election early next year for another four-year term.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Twitter on Friday, called the assault a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack".

 

"The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence," he added.

 

Trump later called Sisi to express his condolences and said the United States "stands by Egypt's side in its fight against terrorism and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in this field," according to a statement from Sisi's office.

 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Egypt.

 

SINAI STRUGGLE

 

North Sinai, which stretches from the Suez Canal eastwards to the Gaza Strip and Israel, has long been a security headache for Egyptian security forces because of smuggling.

 

Sisi has support from some Bedouin tribal leaders, who have helped the army locate weapon-smuggling routes used by jihadi groups, security officials said.

 

Local militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, once allied to al Qaeda, split from it and declared allegiance to Islamic State in 2014.

 

Bloodshed in the Sinai worsened after 2013 when Sisi led the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

Islamic State earlier this year posted a video of the beheading of two Sufis in northern Sinai, accusing them of practicing "sorcery".

 

In July this year, at least 23 soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs hit two military checkpoints in the Sinai, in an attack claimed by Islamic State.

 

Militants have tried to expand their operations into Egypt's heavily populated mainland, hitting Coptic Christian churches and pilgrims. In May, gunmen attacked a Coptic group travelling to a monastery in southern Egypt, killing 29.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-25

[canuckamuck]

Of course none of the attackers were real Muslims. 

Edited November 24, 2017 by canuckamuck

[brewsterbudgen]

Of course none of the attackers were real Muslims. 

Who knows or cares? They were evil terrorist scum.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[nausea]

Wahhabism strikes again, and we all know where that originated. I don't blame Islam as such, Sufis are Islamists.

[steven100]

I was sad about this for .......   1 millisecond ...

[transam]

Seems the Egyptians were quick to respond and fighter jets caught up with the scums convoy and gave them heat...

[craftyhen]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

No group immediately claimed responsibility

this is more surprising than attack itself..

[hansnl]

2 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Of course none of the attackers were real Muslims. 

Of course, it has nothing to do with Muslims, and it is not terrorism.

[RichardColeman]

Coming soon to Thailand ! (thanks to porous immigration)

[phantomfiddler]

Dear God, will this senseless killing never cease :)

[bert bloggs]

31 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

Dear God, will this senseless killing never cease :)

No they just go on killing each other ,pity they couldnt wipe each other out .

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Who knows or cares? They were evil terrorist scum.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

IMO he was being sarcastic. Of course they were, in their minds, true believers.

It's worth remembering that the main victims of the maniacs are fellow Muslims.

They are living through the same times as Christians were when they were slaughtering other Christians for not conforming to THEIR chosen version. With any luck, in 500 years or so, Muslims will be able to accept other versions without needing to kill them.

Edited November 25, 2017 by thaibeachlovers

[boomerangutang]

28 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

Dear God, will this senseless killing never cease :)

It's religious fanaticism which fuels these sorts of atrocities.  I wouldn't ask a man-fabricated God to end it.  I don't have any quick answers.  Oh well, how about this:  Parents, in that region, somehow find the maturity to bring their kids up in a decent loving environment.   If they can't do that, get their tubes tied.

 

As long as deists and religionists hold sway over there in the dunes, profound troubles will persist. 

[dexterm]

from the OP...
"No group immediately claimed responsibility, but since 2013 Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State affiliate in the mainly desert region, and militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers."

...the same scum inspired and financed by wahhabist Saudi Arabia, Trump's new buddies.

 

Makes Trump's faux outrage sound somewhat schizophrenic. Nothing new there then.

from the OP...

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Twitter on Friday, called the assault a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack".
 
"The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence," he added.

Edited November 25, 2017 by dexterm

[Morch]

3 hours ago, nausea said:

Wahhabism strikes again, and we all know where that originated. I don't blame Islam as such, Sufis are Islamists.

 

According to the OP, the Sufis were on the receiving end.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, craftyhen said:

this is more surprising than attack itself..

 

Not really, usually takes a day or two.

[Morch]

59 minutes ago, dexterm said:

from the OP...
"No group immediately claimed responsibility, but since 2013 Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State affiliate in the mainly desert region, and militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers."

...the same scum inspired and financed by wahhabist Saudi Arabia, Trump's new buddies.

 

Makes Trump's faux outrage sound somewhat schizophrenic. Nothing new there then.

from the OP...

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Twitter on Friday, called the assault a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack".
 
"The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence," he added.

 

I don't think that you can provide much solid support for claims regarding consistent Saudi Arabian state-support for ISIS. Also not expecting you to acknowledge anything which complicates this simplistic presentation, such as ISIS carrying out attacks against Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia's security forces taking relevant actions.

 

ISIL claims deadly attack on Saudi forces at mosque

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/suicide-attack-mosque-saudi-arabia-southwest-150806110739697.html

 

Travel Warning – Saudi Arabia

https://sa.usembassy.gov/travel-warning-saudi-arabia/

 

It would also be difficult to reconcile the above position with previous posts berating Saudi Arabia for its support of al-Sisi's regime, but oh well...

Edited November 25, 2017 by Morch

[steven100]

The government does nothing so just shoot each other until no one is left ....

[Morch]

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

The government does nothing so just shoot each other until no one is left ....

 

What does this have to do with the topic?

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

What does this have to do with the topic?

It's a very twisted society in Egypt,  if muslims want to kill each other while praying then go for it.

The Egypt government has never been known for it's retribution to these killings that reoccur every few years.

I say they can go hell for leather ....  idiots.

[Morch]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

It's a very twisted society in Egypt,  if muslims want to kill each other while praying then go for it.

The Egypt government has never been known for it's retribution to these killings that reoccur every few years.

I say they can go hell for leather ....  idiots.

 

Kill each other how? This isn't quite about communal strife between two religious groups. And them worshipers killed were not carrying out attacks against Egypt's ISIS-affiliate. The Egyptian government's been carrying out a long bloody campaign against such organizations. You are either trolling or confusing the OP with unrelated issues (perhaps more to do with treatment of Copts).

[metisdead]

A troll post using an oversize emoticon has been removed, the reply was removed as well. 

[transam]

47 minutes ago, steven100 said:

The government does nothing so just shoot each other until no one is left ....

As I cannot use an emicon I will use words instead....

So you would like the innocent taken out, why is that....?

[transam]

1 hour ago, transam said:

As I cannot use an emicon I will use words instead....

So you would like the innocent taken out, why is that....?

So "steven100" you cannot reply, why is that...?

[dexterm]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

I don't think that you can provide much solid support for claims regarding consistent Saudi Arabian state-support for ISIS. Also not expecting you to acknowledge anything which complicates this simplistic presentation, such as ISIS carrying out attacks against Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia's security forces taking relevant actions.

 

ISIL claims deadly attack on Saudi forces at mosque

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/suicide-attack-mosque-saudi-arabia-southwest-150806110739697.html

 

Travel Warning – Saudi Arabia

https://sa.usembassy.gov/travel-warning-saudi-arabia/

 

It would also be difficult to reconcile the above position with previous posts berating Saudi Arabia for its support of al-Sisi's regime, but oh well...

>>I don't think that you can provide much solid support for claims regarding consistent Saudi Arabian state-support for ISIS.

 

....looks like you had better take the matter up with Hilary Clinton, and the head of MI6.

 

'Saudi Arabia arguably remains the most prolific sponsor of international Islamist terrorism, allegedly supporting groups as disparate as the Afghanistan Taliban, Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Al-Nusra Front.

Saudi Arabia is said to be the world's largest source of funds and promoter of Salafist jihadism, which forms the ideological basis of terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS and others. In a December 2009 diplomatic cable to U.S. State Department staff (made public in the diplomatic cable leaks the following year), U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged U.S. diplomats to increase efforts to block money from Gulf Arab states from going to terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, writing that "Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide" and that "More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups."'

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-sponsored_terrorism#Saudi_Arabia

 

"He [head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove] does not doubt that substantial and sustained funding from private donors in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to which the authorities may have turned a blind eye, has played a central role in the Isis surge into Sunni areas of Iraq. He said: "Such things simply do not happen spontaneously." This sounds realistic since the tribal and communal leadership in Sunni majority provinces is much beholden to Saudi and Gulf paymasters, and would be unlikely to cooperate with Isis without their consent."

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/iraq-crisis-how-saudi-arabia-helped-isis-take-over-the-north-of-the-country-9602312.html

Edited November 25, 2017 by dexterm

[khunken]

2 hours ago, dexterm said:

>>I don't think that you can provide much solid support for claims regarding consistent Saudi Arabian state-support for ISIS.

 

....looks like you had better take the matter up with Hilary Clinton, and the head of MI6.

 

'Saudi Arabia arguably remains the most prolific sponsor of international Islamist terrorism, allegedly supporting groups as disparate as the Afghanistan Taliban, Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Al-Nusra Front.

Saudi Arabia is said to be the world's largest source of funds and promoter of Salafist jihadism, which forms the ideological basis of terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS and others. In a December 2009 diplomatic cable to U.S. State Department staff (made public in the diplomatic cable leaks the following year), U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged U.S. diplomats to increase efforts to block money from Gulf Arab states from going to terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, writing that "Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide" and that "More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups."'

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-sponsored_terrorism#Saudi_Arabia

 

"He [head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove] does not doubt that substantial and sustained funding from private donors in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to which the authorities may have turned a blind eye, has played a central role in the Isis surge into Sunni areas of Iraq. He said: "Such things simply do not happen spontaneously." This sounds realistic since the tribal and communal leadership in Sunni majority provinces is much beholden to Saudi and Gulf paymasters, and would be unlikely to cooperate with Isis without their consent."

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/iraq-crisis-how-saudi-arabia-helped-isis-take-over-the-north-of-the-country-9602312.html

Absolutely correct.

 

The Saudi funding for IS & AQ is not only direct but indirect too for their extreme version of Islam where Shias, Sufis, Christians & basically all 'non-believers' are apostates and 'haram'.

 

Here's just one article that outlines how they do it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-islam.html

[nausea]

7 hours ago, Morch said:

According to the OP, the Sufis were on the receiving end.

Duh! Yeah, and Sufis are Islamists, go figure. So looking on Sufis as our friends rather than our enemies is bad, yes? All Islamists are bad, yes?

[Morch]

4 hours ago, dexterm said:

>>I don't think that you can provide much solid support for claims regarding consistent Saudi Arabian state-support for ISIS.

 

....looks like you had better take the matter up with Hilary Clinton, and the head of MI6.

 

'Saudi Arabia arguably remains the most prolific sponsor of international Islamist terrorism, allegedly supporting groups as disparate as the Afghanistan Taliban, Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Al-Nusra Front.

Saudi Arabia is said to be the world's largest source of funds and promoter of Salafist jihadism, which forms the ideological basis of terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS and others. In a December 2009 diplomatic cable to U.S. State Department staff (made public in the diplomatic cable leaks the following year), U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged U.S. diplomats to increase efforts to block money from Gulf Arab states from going to terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, writing that "Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide" and that "More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups."'

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-sponsored_terrorism#Saudi_Arabia

 

"He [head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove] does not doubt that substantial and sustained funding from private donors in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to which the authorities may have turned a blind eye, has played a central role in the Isis surge into Sunni areas of Iraq. He said: "Such things simply do not happen spontaneously." This sounds realistic since the tribal and communal leadership in Sunni majority provinces is much beholden to Saudi and Gulf paymasters, and would be unlikely to cooperate with Isis without their consent."

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/iraq-crisis-how-saudi-arabia-helped-isis-take-over-the-north-of-the-country-9602312.html

 

It would be better if you carefully read the posts you respond to, and while at - the content of the links your provide.

 

If you need it spelled out: there was no general claim Saudi Arabia doesn't sponsor extremist Islamic organizations - but that with reference to ISIS, and direct Saudi Arabian state support, things are less conclusive.

 

First link: Conveniently failing to quote the first line of the same paragraph, which reads "While Saudi Arabia is often a secondary source of funds and support for terror movements who can find more motivated and ideologically invested benefactors (e.g. Qatar),...". Obviously that doesn't sit well with previously opinionated posts made, hence dropped. As pointed out above, most of the direct references of government support refer to other extreme Islamic organizations. This was not denied, but is not quite what you claimed, nor a whole lot to do with the topic at hand.

 

 Second link: Essentially the same, even in the bit quoted in your post.

 

Now, you may want to take the time and consider what was further pointed out on my post - that ISIS does carry out attacks within Saudi Arabia, that Saudi Arabia's security services do carry out operations against ISIS operatives, and that Saudi Arabia is a major backer of al-Sisi's regime, with little interest of destabilizing it. None of these resonate all that well with your point of view.

[Morch]

2 hours ago, khunken said:

Absolutely correct.

 

The Saudi funding for IS & AQ is not only direct but indirect too for their extreme version of Islam where Shias, Sufis, Christians & basically all 'non-believers' are apostates and 'haram'.

 

Here's just one article that outlines how they do it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-islam.html

 

That's a very good read. It does not, however (as you pointed out) actually support the claim made by the other poster. If anything, it presents a rather complex picture, with less definitive pronouncements with regard to direct ties.

[khunken]

11 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

It would be better if you carefully read the posts you respond to, and while at - the content of the links your provide.

 

If you need it spelled out: there was no general claim Saudi Arabia doesn't sponsor extremist Islamic organizations - but that with reference to ISIS, and direct Saudi Arabian state support, things are less conclusive.

 

First link: Conveniently failing to quote the first line of the same paragraph, which reads "While Saudi Arabia is often a secondary source of funds and support for terror movements who can find more motivated and ideologically invested benefactors (e.g. Qatar),...". Obviously that doesn't sit well with previously opinionated posts made, hence dropped. As pointed out above, most of the direct references of government support refer to other extreme Islamic organizations. This was not denied, but is not quite what you claimed, nor a whole lot to do with the topic at hand.

 

 Second link: Essentially the same, even in the bit quoted in your post.

 

Now, you may want to take the time and consider what was further pointed out on my post - that ISIS does carry out attacks within Saudi Arabia, that Saudi Arabia's security services do carry out operations against ISIS operatives, and that Saudi Arabia is a major backer of al-Sisi's regime, with little interest of destabilizing it. None of these resonate all that well with your point of view.

It would also be better if you would not take seleted bits of articles in links to justify your apparent defence of Saudi Arabia. Hypocrisy that is, as you accuse others of doing the same to justify their opinions.

 

The Saudi government may or may not support IS but it's support for extremist Islamic groups is well documented. In addition turning a blind eye to Saudi citizens' contributing to IS & others is definitely not non-support.

 

Yes, Saudi has gone after IS inside the country but has never made any attempt to go after them elsewhere and only used its modern weaponry against Shias - in Bahrain & Yemen. Saudi support for Al-Sisi's dictatorship is correct but the attack in the Op was not directly against the Egyptian rulers but against Sufi 'apostates' which Wahhabi-ism promotes.