Former Egyptian Grand Mufti escapes assassination attempt in Cairo

The former Egyptian Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa has escaped an assassination attempt in Cairo at a mosque where he led Friday prayers.

Security officials said his bodyguard was wounded when assailants aboard a motorcycle opened fire at him.

The 64-year-old Islamic jurist told state television that he used a wall as a shield when four gunmen hiding in the mosque’s garden opened fire on him while he was about to enter the mosque.

“This is a message to (the terrorists) that I will never waver in my war against them,” he said.

Gomaa insisted on delivering his Friday sermon and led the prayers despite the attack, Egyptian media Al-Ahram reported.

“I led the Friday prayers there sending a message to the people,” he added during the telephone interview on television.

Ali Gomaa was the Grand Mufti of Egypt for a decade until 2013 responsible for giving Islamic rulings. He has openly criticised the rebel group IS and its tenets.

He also criticised the banned Muslim Brotherhood group calling on the security services to carry arms against them.