Beijing, Nov 26 (IANS) World leaders have strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack on a mosque in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Friday which claimed the lives of at least 305 people.
Some 25 to 30 assailants bombed and opened fire at the mosque during Friday pryers, killing 305 worshippers, including 27 children, and wounding 128 others, according to Egyptian authorities. It was the first terrorist operation to target a mosque in modern Egyptian history, Xinhua reported.
US President Donald Trump offered condolences to the people of Egypt after the "heinous" attack.
"There can be no tolerance for barbaric groups that claim to act in the name of a faith but attack houses of worship and murder the innocent and defenseless while at prayer," said the White House.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "the murder of civilians in the course of an act of worship is striking with its cruelty and cynicism", and Russia was ready to further enhance cooperation with Egypt in fighting international terrorism.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi offering his deep condolences and sympathy to Sisi, the families of the victims and the injured.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned "the barbaric terrorist attack on a place of worship in Egypt", saying that "India resolutely supports the fight against all forms of terrorism and stands with the people as well as Government of Egypt".
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack while European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted that he was "appalled by the attack on a mosque in North Sinai".
Sebastiano Cardi, President of the United Nations Security Council, said "the members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack", and he wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker "condemned in the strongest possible terms this barbaric and cowardly act," adding that "Europe stands beside you in solidarity just as you have stood with us in the past".
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also denounced the attack.
Pakistan also condemned "in the strongest term the heinous terrorist attack against innocent worshipers," saying its people stand in "full solidarity with their Egyptian brethren in this moment of anguish and tragedy".
A statement released by Israeli Prime Minister's Office denounced "the horrific and criminal terrorist attack" which occurred close to Egypt's border with Israel, saying that "terrorism will be defeated even more quickly if all countries work against it together".
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said: "I strongly condemn the heinous attack in Egypt and offer condolence to the Egyptian people... Attacking people during Friday prayer is against humanity and Islam."
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry confirmed the country's solidarity with Egypt and extended sincere condolences to the families of the martyrs and wishes swift recovery of the wounded.
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Morocco's King Mohammed VI also voiced their full solidarity with Egypt and the Egyptian people.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: "Once again the cowardly hand of terrorism targeted the dear nation of Egypt... It does not differentiate between places even if they are mosques and place of worship."
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah condemned the attack that violates all religions, norms and human values, and voiced his country's solidarity with Egypt and his full support to all measures taken by Egypt to maintain its security and stability.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned "this terrorist crime, which is contrary to all human values and principles, the teachings of Islamic law and divine religions," the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement.
Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, "strongly condemns the cowardly treacherous terrorist attack", saying "this terrible crime against a house of God can only be carried out by those who have no human or religious morals".
(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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