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The death toll in the Egypt mosque terror attack has risen to 305 people including children after suspected ISIS terrorists launched a suicide bomb and machine gun attack on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province.

It was the deadliest terror attack in modern Egyptian history, eclipsing the bombing of a Russian passenger jet which killed 224.

Masked insurgents wearing military uniforms and waving black flags carried out the massacre as they surrounded and stormed the building - including a kindergarten full of children - during Friday prayers.

Terrorists wearing suicide vests detonated explosives and others then shot worshippers dead as they tried to flee the blasts.

As dozens of victims lay dead or dying, the gunmen ambushed ambulances arriving to help the injured at the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, in a region where the military has been battling an ISIS insurgency.

Egypt's military struck back just hours later, sending its fighter jets into the skies and a drone which reportedly destroyed two vehicles, killing 15 suspected attackers.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: @sinai_news_1/Twitter)

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Local media reported as many as 40 terrorists in up to eight vehicles carried out the attack and a hunt now underway for the perpetrators.

State media said at least 235 people were killed and more than 100 were injured, with photos showing bloodied victims and dead bodies on the floor as mourners gathered around them.

Victims were rushed to hospital in the backs of civilian trucks.

A local resident told Reuters: "They were shooting at people as they left the mosque. They were shooting at the ambulances too."

No group has claimed responsibility.

Local media reported that some of the victims were sufis who hardliners such as ISIS regard as apostates because they revere saints and shrines.

(Image: @sinai_news_1/Twitter) (Image: @sinai_news_1/Twitter) (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

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Last year, ISIS beheaded a 100-year-old sufi cleric who they had accused if performing witchcraft.

Egypt has declared three days of national mourning following Friday's attack at the crowded mosque.

At least 30 ambulances rushed to the scene and local hospitals declared states of emergency as they treated the victims. There were appeals for donations of blood and medical supplies in the aftermath.

One local hospital was said to have run out of blood.

Parliamentarian Mustafa Bakri called the attack a "massacre" with 25 children among the dead.

He wrote on Twitter: "The situation is catastrophic.

"The terrorists were masked and surrounded the mosque during prayer, and terrorists wearing belts were hidden among the worshippers."

He said the militants outside were armed with machine guns and had arrived in 4x4 vehicles, and killed local members of the security forces after attacking the mosque.

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

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He vowed that Egypt will defeat terrorism, adding: "These are not Muslims. These are killers."

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi convened members of his cabinet for an emergency security committee meeting following the attack.

In a statement, he offered condolences over the "despicable" and "cowardly" and assured Egyptians that it would "not go unpunished".

He added: "The hand of justice will be extended to those who participated, supported, finances or instigated this act."

The attack was condemned by leaders including Prime Minister Theresa May.

She wrote in a tweet: "Appalled by the sickening attack on a mosque in North Sinai. Condolences with all those in Egypt affected by this evil and cowardly act."

US President Donald Trump tweeted: "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!"

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter: "Deeply saddened by the abhorrent attack on a mosque in North Sinai, Egypt. My sincere condolences to all those affected by such a barbaric act."

John Casson, Britain's ambassador to Egypt, tweeted: "I am disgusted by the evil attack that killed & injured so many Egyptians in Sinai today.

"On behalf of the UK my deep condolences to all involved. These attacks on people praying in mosques & churches only strengthen our determination to stand together, & defeat terrorism & hate."

The US Embassy in Cairo said in a statement: "Today’s terrorist attack on worshippers attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Arish was an unconscionable act of cowardice and hate.

"The Embassy extends heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were killed and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured.

"As Egypt battles the scourge of terrorism, the United States stands committed to the safety and security of Egypt and its people."

(Image: Google Maps)

Egypt's military has been fighting an insurgency on the Sinai Peninsula since the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

The violence worsened after a coup in 2013 led to the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi.

Local militants joined up with ISIS in 2014 and have since killed hundreds of people in a wave of attacks against civilians and soldiers.

Most attacks have targeted security forces, but they have also targeted local Sinai tribes that are working with the military and police.

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Earlier this month, Egypt's Air Force released aerial footage showing an air strike which killed militants who tried to attack a checkpoint manned by soldiers.

The worst attack has been ISIS' bombing of a Metrojet plane filled with Russian holidaymakers, killing all 224 on board, in October 2015. The tourists were on their way home after holidaying in Sharm el-Sheikh.

More recently, nearly 50 people were killed in twin suicide bombings at churches in Alexandria and Tanta on Palm Sunday in April, with ISIS-aligned militants claiming responsibility.

At least 23 soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs hit two military checkpoints in the largely barren Sinai Peninsula in July.

(Image: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)

The attack was also claimed by the terror group whose followers have also carried out a wave of attacks in Europe this year.

Militants have tried to launch attacks in Egypt's heavy populated mainland as well.

In May, gunmen attacked a Coptic group travelling to a monastery in southern Egypt, killing 29.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has told Britons not to travel to North Sinai due to the attacks.

It advises against all but essential travel to South Sinai with the exception of the area within the Sharm el-Sheikh perimeter barrier including the airport.

However Britons are advised not to travel by air to or from the holiday destination which has seen tourist numbers plummet since the Russian airliner was brought down by a bomb.

They are also urged not to travel to the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, excluding the coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh, the FCO said.