Egyptian former Grand Mufti, Ali Gomaa survived an assassination attempt in Cairo on Friday.
A statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry said that two unidentified gunmen fired shots at the 64-year-old cleric outside a major mosque on the outskirts of Cairo where he was to give the sermon for Friday prayers.
The report added that one of his bodyguards sustained minor injuries during the attack, while the attackers escaped the scene.
It said that Egypt’s state security has formed an investigative team to identify the perpetrators.
Gomaa, formerly the highest Islamic authority in Egypt in charge of issuing religious Fatwa (edicts), is known for his opposition to extremism.
He was also a supporter of the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi by the army in 2013.
Meanwhile, Gomaa said that the failed assassination attempt on his life made him more determined to give the sermon in order to “challenge terrorism.”
The attack came one day after the Egyptian army announced that the chief of the local branch of Islamic State was killed in restive North Sinai province.
A total of 45 other members of the terrorist group named Sinai Province were also killed in the joint operation by anti-terrorism troops and air force. (dpa/NAN)