Brussels Attacks 'Violate' Islamic Teachings, Says al-Azhar

Sunni Islam's leading seat of learning, Al-Azhar, said Tuesday's attacks in Brussels "violate the tolerant teachings of Islam," and urged the international community to confront the "epidemic" of terrorism.

"Al-Azhar strongly condemns these terrorist attacks. These heinous crimes violate the tolerant teachings of Islam," the Cairo-based Al-Azhar said in a statement.

"If the international community does not unite to confront this epidemic, the corrupt will not stop from committing heinous crimes against the innocent."

The Egyptian foreign ministry also condemned the attacks that left at least 26 people dead and dozens wounded in Brussels.

"The time has come for the world to make a final stand to deal with the phenomenon of international terrorism," ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement issued in English.

He called for steps to tackle it at the "financing and ideological levels ... and to prevent the recruitment of more individuals by criminal terrorist groups".