On Friday 24 November, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini condemned the attack on a mosque in North Sinai earlier that day. The attack left over 300 people dead and around a hundred wounded. Mogherini described it as an "unbearable act", and called for the perpetrators to be held responsible.
"Innocent people have once again been targeted in Egypt today: a terrorist attack has killed hundreds of peaceful worshippers at a mosque in North Sinai. The attackers targeted the Friday prayers, a sacred moment for Muslim believers", Mogherini said in a press release, adding that over recent years, Egypt has been hit by a number of attacks against places of worship of all faiths. "No one should be killed because of their religion; no sacred place should be profaned by violence and terrorism. People of all religions – and none – are united in the fight against terrorist violence", she said.
Mogherini stated that the EU would continue to stand with the Egyptian authorities and people as they confront the threat from terrorism. "We have to step up our joint fight against terrorism", European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn meanwhile tweeted, describing the attack as "heinous". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)