Egypt: 155 dead in Nov. 24 Sinai mosque attack /update 1

Event

Casualty tolls from the terrorist attack carried out at a mosque in the Al-Rawda area near Al-Arish (North Sinai) during Friday prayers on November 24 has risen to 155 dead and 120 wounded, according to Egyptian state television. Unidentified armed men reportedly opened fire on worshipers after an explosion at the site. These numbers could rise in the coming hours and days. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet.

Context

The restive Sinai Peninsula has been a target of various attacks by Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants since 2013. According to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, the threat of terrorism has increased in the country following major territorial losses suffered by IS in Iraq and Syria, which 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 that 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.