Government officials confirmed today ISIS militants stormed the Al Rawdah mosque carrying the Daesh flag and took up shooting positions at the entrance and windows.
Egypt’s public prosecutor’s office linked the horror to the Islamist terror group.
He said: “They numbered between 25 and 30, carrying the Daesh flag and took up positions in front of the mosque door and its 12 windows with automatic rifles.”
The warped gunmen, some wearing masks and military-style uniforms, surrounded the mosque blocking windows and a doorway and opened fire inside with automatic rifles, a statement from the prosecutor’s office said.
The death toll has risen to 305, including 27 children, as well as 128 people injured, the MENA state news agency reported.
Egypt’s military said they had carried out air strikes and raids overnight against militants held responsible for the killings.
No group has claimed responsibility yet.
Witnesses said gunmen set off a bomb at the end of Friday prayers at the mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of El-Arish city, and then opened fire as worshippers tried to flee, shooting at ambulances and setting fire to cars to block roads.
Images on state media shows bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the mosque.
Witnesses said survivors fleeing the original blast were attacked by gunmen who arrived in at least four SUVs after the explosion.
The gunmen opened fire on the crowd fleeing the attack, as well as on ambulances ferrying those hurt in the blast to the hospital.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called the attack “criminal” and “cowardly” in a televised statement on Friday.
Mr Sisi said: ”The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all travel to North Sinai due to the “significant increase in criminal activity” and “continued terrorist attacks on police and security forces that have resulted in deaths.”