Turkish presidential aide condemns Egypt mosque bombing

By Ilkay Guder

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin on Friday condemned “heinous attack” at a mosque in Egypt’s northern Sinai Peninsula.

At least 235 people were killed and more than 100 others injured after a group of attackers carried out a bomb attack outside a mosque in the city of Al-Arish following Friday prayers.

After detonating the bomb, the attackers opened fire on worshippers and then attempted to stop ambulances from accessing the area, according to Egypt's Nile News television channel.

"Turkey considers terrorism as a crime against humanity whatever its source and reason and strongly expresses this view in its all international, regional and bilateral contacts," Ibrahim Kalin said in a statement Friday.

Kalin wished Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives and conveyed his condolences to Egyptians.

He went on to say that the painful incidents in the world's various regions once again emphasize the vital importance of an "effective international cooperation" against terrorism.

Kalin also said that Turkey sincerely shared the sorrow of friendly and brotherly people of Egypt.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry also condemned the bombing with a statement issued on its website.

"We strongly condemn the terrorist attack perpetrated today (November 24) on a mosque located in the west of Al-Arish (northern Sinai), causing many casualties and wounded people," the statement said.

"We convey our condolences to the families and brotherly people of Egypt and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded," it added.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also called his Egyptian counterpart during the day to offer condolences.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The Egyptian presidency, meanwhile, has declared a three-day countrywide state of mourning for the victims.

The Sinai Peninsula has remained the epicenter of a low-intensity militant insurgency since mid-2013, when the army ousted and imprisoned Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, in a bloody military coup.

The insurgency has been largely confined to the northern Sinai Peninsula, but sporadic attacks have also occurred on the Egyptian mainland, including capital Cairo.