(Eagle News) — The Philippines on Friday expressed its condolences to Egypt following the deadly terrorist attack in a mosque that killed over 200 and wounded others.
“We join the people and the government of Egypt and the rest of the world in mourning the loss of many innocent lives in the tragedy,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
Cayetano also condemned the attack, which Ambassador Leslie Baja said took place at the Al-Rawdah mosque in Bir Al-Abed Province, about 300 kilometers northeast of Cairo.
Baja said the attack “involved at least one suicide bomber and several gunmen who targeted Sufi Muslim worshipers attending Friday afternoon prayers.”
“Attacks on any places of worship are totally unacceptable,” Cayetano said.
Echoing President Rodrigo Duterte, he said the incident “must reinforce the resolve not only of the various governments but also of the major faiths around the world to work together and fight these forces of terror.”
As to whether there were Filipino casualties, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo said initial reports showed there was none.
The embassy said, however, that it was monitoring the situation.
It also reiterated previous reminders to the 5183 registered Filipinos there — that they avoid going to the Northern Sinai region due to the “high risk of terrorist attacks.”
