The latest warning came as recently as a week ago, telling villagers in Al-Rawdah not to hold Sufi rituals on Nov. 29-30 to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

Gunmen who attacked a mosque in North Sinai were carrying an Islamic State flag.

At least 235 people were killed and 100 wounded when suspected militants set off a bomb and opened fire at a mosque in Egypt's restive northern Sinai on Friday, state media and eyewitnesses said.