 "A picture taken on November 25, 2017, shows the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, after a gun and bombing attack. File image/AFP")
In one of the deadliest terror attacks in modern history, terrorists targeted the Al-Rawda mosque in a small town in North Sinai, Egypt, on November 24, 2017. When the attack unfolded, more than 300 people lost their lives as the mosque was packed with worshippers for the Friday prayers.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
On this day in 1991, legendary musician and the lead singer of the Queen band, Freddie Mercury, died at the age of 45. Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking scientific work, ‘On the Origin of Species,’ on this day in 1859.
Here is all that took place on this day across the world.
Terrorists attacked mosque in North Sinai
More than 300 worshippers were killed in North Sinai, Egypt, when terrorists attacked at the worshippers at the Al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed on November 24, 2017. This marked one of the deadliest terror attacks on civilians in Egypt.
Around midday, as the sermon was underway, terrorists detonated explosives outside the mosque and then opened fire on the panicked congregation trying to flee. According to survivor accounts, the attackers had positioned themselves at the mosque’s entrances and windows, shooting men, children, and elderly worshippers without distinction. Some of the gunmen also fired on ambulances as they rushed to the scene, slowing the rescue efforts and increasing the death toll.
The attack killed more than 300 people, including at least 27 children, making it the deadliest terrorist incident in Egypt’s history. Over a hundred others were injured. The brutality and scale of the assault shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation from governments across the world.
Although no group immediately claimed responsibility, Egyptian officials blamed militants affiliated with the Islamic State’s Sinai Province, which had previously targeted security forces and Christian churches in the region. The Al-Rawda mosque attack marked a chilling escalation in the insurgency, as it deliberately targeted a place of worship filled with civilians, a tactic rarely seen on such a massive scale in Egypt.
In response, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed to use “brute force” to crush terrorist networks in the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian military launched intensive airstrikes and raids on suspected militant hideouts in the following days.
Freddie Mercury died
The lead singer of the band Queen, Freddie Mercury, passed away on this day in 1991. Many musicians and fans consider this to be the end of an era.
What was more shocking was that just a day earlier, Mercury had publicly confirmed for the first time that he was living with Aids. The brief announcement was significant as it helped break stigma and draw attention to the global Aids crisis at a time when public understanding was limited.
Mercury died at his home in Kensington, London, surrounded by his friends and family, from bronchial pneumonia resulting from Aids. Mercury had chosen to keep his illness private and continued to record music even as his health deteriorated. Queen’s final studio sessions with him produced emotionally powerful tracks such as “These Are the Days of Our Lives,” which later took on deeper meaning as fans recognised his frailty in the music video.
As the news of his death spread, it prompted an outpouring of grief from fans, musicians, and public figures. Tributes highlighted not only his extraordinary musical legacy, which included songs like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘We Will Rock You,’ and ‘Somebody to Love’, but also his unmatched stage presence, from operatic vocals to electrifying live performances such as the iconic 1985 Live Aid concert.
Mercury’s death became a turning point in public awareness of Aids, galvanising activism and fundraising. In 1992, the surviving members of Queen organised the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, raising millions for Aids research and launching the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which continues to support global Hiv/Aids initiatives.
Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species was published
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin was published on November 24, 1859. The book, whose full title was On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, introduced the theory that species evolve over long periods through a process Darwin called natural selection, where organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce at higher rates.
Darwin’s ideas were the result of more than two decades of research and reflection, beginning with his five-year voyage on HMS Beagle. During his voyage, he observed the diversity of plant and animal life across South America and the Galápagos Islands. These observations challenged traditional beliefs about the fixed nature of species. Back in England, Darwin meticulously gathered evidence from geology, animal breeding, and comparative anatomy, eventually developing a coherent and revolutionary explanation for biological diversity.
When the book was released by the London publisher John Murray, the entire first print run of 1,250 copies sold out on the first day, reflecting intense scientific and public interest. Darwin’s arguments were presented in clear, accessible language, supported by extensive evidence and careful reasoning. Yet the book also ignited controversy, particularly among religious leaders who saw natural selection as contradicting the idea of creation by divine design.
Among scientists, Origin of Species sparked fierce debate but gradually gained acceptance, especially as more evidence accumulated. Figures like Thomas Huxley, known as “Darwin’s Bulldog,” championed the theory in public forums, while critics challenged its implications for human origins.
This Day, That Year
The novel Black Beauty was published in 1877.
In 1874, American inventor Joseph Farwell Glidden patented the first commercially successful barbed wire.
Tasmania was discovered on this day in 1642.
With inputs from agencies