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RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned the attack on an Egyptian mosque that killed more than 300 worshippers and said it would galvanize an Islamic military coalition he convened in Riyadh on Sunday.
Top defense officials from some 40 Muslim-majority countries met for a summit aimed at countering “terrorism.”
The alliance was announced two years ago by the crown prince, who also serves as defense minister of the country.
“(The attack) was a very painful occurrence and must make us contemplate in an international and powerful way the role of this terrorism and extremism,” the crown prince said.
Gunmen attacked a mosque on Friday in Egypt’s North Sinai killing more than 300 worshippers, including two dozen children.
Officials have described the coalition as a grouping that would allow member states to request or offer assistance among themselves in fighting groups they designate as terrorists.
Such assistance could include military force, financial aid, material or security expertise, and will have a permanent base in Riyadh.
The coalition will focus not only on a military, security and intelligence track but also efforts to combat terrorist financing and ideology.
“The biggest threat from terrorism and extremism is not only killing innocent people and spreading hate, but tarnishing the reputation of our religion and distorting our belief,” the crown prince said in opening remarks.