Egyptians, Turks pray for Sinai mosque bombing victims

By Mohamed al-Rayes

KONYA, Turkey (AA) - Dozens of Egyptians and Turks on Tuesday performed funeral prayers for the victims of last Friday’s deadly mosque attack in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Prayers were conducted at the Mevlana Rumi Mosque in the city of Konya in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region.

The prayers were performed on the sidelines of a five-day “Let’s Manufacture Together” conference, currently underway in Konya and Istanbul with the participation of Egyptian and Turkish businessmen and investors.

Last Friday, over 300 people were killed -- and scores more injured -- when unknown perpetrators bombed a mosque teeming with worshippers in the North Sinai town of Bir al-Abd.

“We have been deeply touched by Turkey’s reaction to the tragedy in Egypt,” Sherif el-Barbari, head of the Egyptian delegation to the manufacturing forum, told Anadolu Agency.

“Their speedy condemnation of the attack -- and the way they have mourned with us -- confirms the brotherly ties between our two countries,” he added.

On Monday, Turkey observed a national day of mourning in solidarity with the victims of last week’s deadly attack in Egypt.

In January, Cairo hosted an Egyptian-Turkish Business Forum attended by Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the president of Turkey’s Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).

Last year, the total trade volume between Turkey and Egypt stood at more than $4 billion, according to official Egyptian figures.