Greek leaders condemn deadly terrorist attack at North Sinai mosque

Greek political leaders responded with abhorrence and messages of support to the terrorist attack on Friday at a mosque in Bir Al Abed in North Sinai that claimed the lives of at least 235 people and injured another 120, at latest count.

President Pavlopoulos

Greek Ambassador to Egypt Michael Diamessis conveyed the condolences and solidarity of Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.

The Greek president also expressed his condolences to victims' families and his wishes for a fast recovery of those injured.

Foreign ministry

The Greek Foreign ministry condemned "in the strongest terms" Friday's "hideous attack" at the Al Rawdah mosque.

"Greece condemns terrorism in the strongest terms, whatever its origins," a ministry statement said, and expressed solidarity with the Egyptian people and the condolences of the Greek people and government to the victims' families. It also expressed "concern over the continuing attacks against religious minorities in the Middle East and North Africa which suffer the catastrophic consequences of terrorism and religious intolerance."

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias spoke by phone with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry to convey Greece's support and condolences, as did Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick with Egyptian Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram.

Parliament president

Parliament President Nikos Voutsis expressed his unequivocal condemnation of the attack, in a letter to his Egyptian counterpart Ali Abdel-Aal Sayed Ahmed.

"On behalf of the Greek Parliament and myself personally, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and our support for the injured in the terrorist attack at the al-Ruda Mosque in Bir al-Abd," he said.

"We condemn categorically and unequivocally this bloody attack and express our abhorrence for this brutal act," he added.

SYRIZA party

Senior ruling coalition party SYRIZA expressed its abhorrence on Friday for the terrorist attack.

"We express our abhorrence and sorrow at the deadly terrorist attack at the Al Radwah mosque," it said in a statement. "We stand against such actions that sow death and raise the sense of fear in the area," it noted.

"Our heart and thought is with the Egyptian people, to whom we express our solidarity and support," SYRIZA said, adding its condolences to families of the victims.

ANEL party

The Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, the junior member of the ruling coalition, expressed its abhorrence "in the strongest terms possible".

"Acts of terrorism aim at disturbing the sensitive balances in the region and at perpetuating the foul cycle of violence and blood," the party said through its spokeswoman Mantalena Papadopoulou, who also expressed solidarity with the Egyptian people and condolences to the victims' families.

Main opposition ND party

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he is "shocked" by the attack by militants.

"I feel shocked. The tragedy in Sinai leads us to give put all our strength in fighting terrorism. [We must bring] an end to the blood brought by hatred," he tweeted.

PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata 

The murderous attack against defenseless people who were praying creates feelings of horror and indignation, PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata said on Friday in response to a deadly attack on a mosque in Sinai, Egypt. 

"We are all united against terrorism, together with the Egyptian people who are suffering," she added.

Read more here.

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Source: ANA-MPA