Egypt attack death toll tops 300

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Egypt attack death toll tops 300

November 25, 2017

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } November 25, 2017

The Sufi mosque attacked in Egypt Nov. 24

Stringer/Getty Images

The death toll in Friday's attack on a Sufi mosque in Egypt's Sinai province has risen to 305 people, including 27 children, Egyptian officials reported Saturday. Another 128 people were injured, and the death toll could continue to increase.

The attackers were a group of about 25 Islamist militants, one of whom was reportedly carrying an Islamic State flag. While ISIS has not claimed the incident, its Sunni extremist members believe Sufi Muslims are heretical.

President Trump condemned the slaughter in a pair of tweets Friday morning:

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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017

Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi later Friday, after which the White House issued a statement promoting international unity against terrorism.