US condemns deadly Egypt mosque attack, calls for 'collective' effort to defeat terrorism

The United States condemned an attack on a mosque in Egypt on Friday, the White House said in a statement that also called on the international community to strengthen its efforts to defeat terrorist groups.

"We must collectively discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said following the attack, in which more than 230 people died while attending prayers. 

US President Trump, in a tweet earlier on Friday, called the attack "horrible."

"The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!," Trump said on Twitter.

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

Will be calling the President of Egypt in a short while to discuss the tragic terrorist attack, with so much loss of life. We have to get TOUGHER AND SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN! God bless the people of Egypt.

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

At least 235 worshippers were killed as militants set off a bomb and opened fire on people attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Egypt’s restive northern Sinai.

The blast occurred in the al-Rawda village, west of el-Arish, during Friday prayers. 

(With Inputs from Reuters)