The 2017 al-Rawda mosque attack killed 311 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Egyptian history.
Key Facts
- Date
- 24 November 2017, 1:50 PM EET
- Deaths
- 311 people
- Injured
- At least 128 people
- Number of attackers
- Approximately 40 gunmen
- Target
- Al-Rawda mosque, Jaririya Sufi order
- Rank globally in 2017
- Second-deadliest terrorist attack of 2017
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The al-Rawda mosque was a major center of the Jaririya Sufi order in North Sinai, a region marked by an active Islamist insurgency. Sufi shrines and orders have frequently been targeted by jihadist groups who regard Sufism as heretical, making the mosque and its congregation a deliberate target amid ongoing violence in the Sinai Peninsula.
On 24 November 2017, approximately 40 gunmen attacked the al-Rawda mosque near Bir al-Abed during Friday prayers. The attackers struck while hundreds of worshippers were gathered, killing 311 people and injuring at least 128 others. The assault constituted the deadliest attack in Egyptian history and the second-deadliest terrorist attack worldwide in 2017.
The attack drew universal condemnation from world leaders and international organizations. It intensified pressure on the Egyptian government to address the Islamist insurgency in North Sinai, prompting calls for stronger military and security operations in the region. The death toll surpassed all previous terrorist attacks in Egypt, marking a grim benchmark in the country's modern history.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent