By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet, Hajer M'tiri and Diyar Guldogan
CAIRO (AA) – A deadly bombing that targeted a mosque in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Friday — in which least 235 people were killed — has been met with condemnation from leaders, countries and groups around the world.
“The terrorists who carried out this attack, the terror groups that gave them the order, and those who are using these groups are enemies of humanity and enemies of religion, ” Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag tweeted.
Stella Kyriakides, the chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said in a statement: “We must stand firm against the threat of terrorism, which knows no borders.”
U.S. President Donald Trump likewise condemned the “horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers “.
“The world cannot tolerate terrorism,” Trump tweeted. “We must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence! ”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, offered his condolences to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, according to a statement released by the Kremlin.
“We are once again convinced that terrorists are completely alien to the notion of human morality,” Putin asserted.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, meanwhile, tweeted: “Appalled by the sickening attack on a mosque in North Sinai. Condolences to all those in Egypt affected by this evil and cowardly act. ”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also weighed in, saying: “I learned with horror of the ignoble attack that hit a mosque in the Northern Sinai, costing the lives of over a hundred worshippers during the Friday prayer.”
Speaking via Twitter, he added: “I send my condolences to the families, as well as to the authorities of the country.”
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg, also speaking via Twitter, said: “I condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on a mosque in North Sinai. My thoughts are with all those affected and the people of our partner, Egypt. ”
Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also condemned the deadly bombing, which occurred not far from Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip.
“Hamas condemns in the strongest terms the criminal bombing targeting worshipers at Al-Rawda Mosque in Sinai’s Bir al-Abd region,” the group said, going on to extend its condolences to the friends and families of the victims.
Hamas also called upon “God Almighty to protect Egypt — and all Muslim countries — from misfortune and provide them with safety and stability”.
