Italian army chief offers condolences to Egypt over Arish attack

CAIRO – 24 November 2017: The Chief of the Italian Defence General Staff Claudio Graziano offers his condolences to Egypt over the deadly Arish attack that occurred Friday, calling everyone to be alert to the threat of terrorism.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly stood for a moment of silence for the 235 lost souls of the Arish attack that took place in North Sinai on Friday morning, during the prayers.

A number of terrorists stormed Al Rawdah mosque in west Arish City during the Friday prayers, and detonated an explosive device. The attack left 235 dead and 109 injured thus far, according to informed sources.


Chief of the Italian Defence General Staff Claudio Graziano offers his condolences to Egypt at NATO Parliamentarian Assembly session

Arab and foreign leaders condemned the terrorist attack at Al-Rawdah mosque and expressed their support to Egyptian leadership in its combating terrorism campaign.
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted after the attack saying: “Horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers in Egypt. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!”

French President Emmanuel Macron also took to his Twitter to condemn the attack and offer condolences to Egyptians: “My condolences to the victims of the terrible attack on the mosque in Bir El-Abd in the Sinai.”

Égypte - Toutes mes condoléances aux victimes du terrible attentat contre la mosquée de Bir El-Abd dans le Sinaï.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 24, 2017

Egyptian religious bodies, including Al-Azhar, Dar al-Ifta, and the Coptic Orthodox Church denounced the attack as a violation to the sanctity of God's houses.