MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/. Those behind the Friday mosque attack in Sinai will not succeed in undermining peace and stability in Egypt, Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said in a message of condolences to Chairman of Egypt’s House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal. She added that the global community should pool its efforts to counter those who seek to sow fear and death.
"I strongly condemn this crime and I am confident that those behind it will not succeed in undermining peace and stability in Egypt," says the message published by the Federation Council’s press service. "By actively coordinating efforts to fight terrorism, the global community will be able to counter those who seek to impose their will on others by sowing fear and death. All their attempts are bound to fail and those responsible will be inevitably found and handed the punishment they deserve," the Russian senate speaker added.
Matviyenko conveyed sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded.
The attack at Al-Rawdah mosque in the town of Bir al-Abd, located 30 kilometers west of Arish, the capital of the North Sinai province, took place during the Friday prayer. Terrorists set off an explosive device in the mosque and then opened sporadic fire at worshippers. The media say the attackers also fired at ambulance cars evacuating the wounded. According to the latest information, at least 235 people were killed in the attack, while more than 120 suffered wounds.
A state of emergency was declared in the North Sinai province several years ago in light of continuous terror attacks. Foreign nationals are prohibited from travelling to the provincial capital of Arish, as well as to its neighboring areas.
Egypt has declared three days of mourning after the deadly mosque attack.