184 killed, 125 wounded in Egypt mosque attack

No group claimed immediate responsibility

Militants killed 184 people at a mosque in Egypt's north Sinai region on Friday, detonating a bomb and shooting at fleeing worshippers and ambulances, state media and witnesses said.

State television and the official news agency MENA reported that 184 people had been killed. Another 125 were wounded, according to state media. No group claimed immediate responsibility

The extremists attacked the Al-Rawdah mosque in the town of Bir Al-Abd, 40 km (25 miles) from the North Sinai provincial capital of El-Arish, opening fire from four off-road vehicles on worshippers inside during the sermon, three police officers said.

Victims were being transferred to local hospitals, they added, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief reporters. They said Daesh militants had blocked escape routes from the area by blowing up cars and leaving the burning wrecks blocking the roads.

Egypt's state news agency reported the casualty toll, citing "official sources," revising it upward several times following the officials' initial reports.

The attack was the largest single targeting of Egyptian civilians and the first on a large mosque congregation.

MENA reported that Egypt's presidency declared a three-day mourning period for the attack, as President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi convened a high-level meeting of security officials.

Cairo's international airport boosted security following the attack, with more troopers and forces seen patrolling passenger halls, conducting searches and manning checkpoints at airport approaches.