Egypt: Bomb attack at mosque in Sinai Nov. 24

Event

A bomb attack at a mosque in the Al-Rawda area near Al-Arish (North Sinai) reportedly injured 75 people during Friday prayers on November 24, according to the Ministry of Health. In addition to the bomb attack, early reports allege unidentified men in off-road vehicles opened fire on worshipers. The Ministry of Health has reportedly disputed conflicting reports of high death tolls. These numbers could rise in the coming hours and days. No group has claimed immediate responsibility for the attack.

Context

The restive Sinai Peninsula has been a target of various attacks by Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants since 2013. Northeastern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, has been particularly volatile. According to current President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, the risk of terrorism has increased in the country as IS's major territorial losses in Iraq and Syria have caused many of its militants to come to Egypt.

Egypt is currently under a state of emergency, originally declared following IS attacks on churches in Alexandria and Tanta, which killed 44 people on Palm Sunday in April 2017.

Advice

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Some governments advise their nationals against all travel to the Sinai Peninsula due to the persistent terrorist threat.