Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C) chairs a meeting of the security committee on the attack on a mosque in North Sinai province, in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017. (Xinhua)
CAIRO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed on Friday a "fierce action" will be carried out in response to a mosque's attack in North Sinai province that left at least 235 killed amid local and international condemnation, state-run TV reported.
"The army and police will avenge our martyrs and return security and stability with force in the coming short period," he said in a televised speech.
"Such attack is aimed at destroying our unity, but it will steel our resolve to defeat terrorism," he added.
An explosive device planted outside the mosque near Arish city went off, before militants opened fire at the prayers, an official security source told Xinhua.
The attack occurred in the village of Rawda in Beir el-Abad, 40 km from Arish, the source added.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
It is the first time a mosque is targeted by militants in Egypt. However, dozens of Christians have been killed in similar attacks on churches across Egypt.
The terror attack has drawn widespread local and international condemnation as cowardly act of terrorism.
The United States condemned the attack. "We must collectively discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said following the attack.
President Donald Trump, in a tweet, called the attack "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers in Egypt."
He added in his tweet "The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman strongly denounced the killing of the worshippers as "a coward terrorist action that killed honest secured people in one of God's houses."
Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent a cable of condolences over the victims. He also expressed his country's solidarity with Egypt in its fight against terrorism.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also strongly denounced the terror attack, voicing his solidarity with Egypt.
"Terrorism doesn't target Egypt only, but it also targets the whole Arab nation," Abbas added.
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah stressed the Gulf state's support for Egypt, the security and stability of its people and all measures taken by the Egyptian government to face terrorism.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Ivan Surkos, condemned the attack, describing it as a barbaric terrorist act against innocent civilians.
French Ambassador to Egypt Stéphane Romatet also condemned the terrorist attack, describing it as brutal and shameful. He asserted that France stands by Egypt.
British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson deplored the terrorist attack that targeted innocent worshipers.
"These attacks on people praying in mosques and churches only strengthen our determination to stand together, & defeat terrorism & hate," Casson wrote on his Twitter.
"I am disgusted by the evil attack that killed & injured so many Egyptians in Sinai today. On behalf of the UK my deep condolences to all involved," he twitted.
Commenting on the attack, Arab League Secretary Ahmed Aboul-Gheit reiterated his support for Egypt in the fight against terrorism.
He stressed that Islam has nothing to do with such terrorist attacks, adding that the perpetrators have no human values and principles.
Meanwhile, Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam said such terrorist attacks aim at fomenting sedition everywhere, even at mosques, stressing that perpetrators of this terrorist act have no mercy or humanity.
Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb denounced the attack and stressed the importance of working to eliminate terrorists.
For his part, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, condemned the terrorist attack , expressing solidarity with the victims of terror in Egypt.
President of Evangelical Church in Egypt Andrea Zaki condemned the terrorist attack, saying it aims at destabilizing the security and stability in Egypt.
He underlined that such an attack is a violation of the principles of religion.
Egypt is suffering a wave of terrorist attacks, mostly centered in Sinai where militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers since the army-led ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Most of the attacks, which recently expanded the city and some other cities, have been claimed by the Islamic State branch in Sinai.
