This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31941672
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum rampage | Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum rampage |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nineteen people, including 17 foreign tourists, have been killed in a gun attack on the Bardo museum in the Tunisian capital, the PM has said. | Nineteen people, including 17 foreign tourists, have been killed in a gun attack on the Bardo museum in the Tunisian capital, the PM has said. |
| Italian, Spanish, Polish and German citizens were among those killed, as well as a Tunisian and a police officer, PM Habib Essid said. | Italian, Spanish, Polish and German citizens were among those killed, as well as a Tunisian and a police officer, PM Habib Essid said. |
| Some media reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 22. | Some media reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 22. |
| Security forces killed two gunmen and were searching the surrounding area for accomplices, Mr Essid said. | Security forces killed two gunmen and were searching the surrounding area for accomplices, Mr Essid said. |
| At the time of the attack, deputies in the neighbouring parliamentary building were discussing anti-terrorism legislation. Parliament was evacuated following the attack. | At the time of the attack, deputies in the neighbouring parliamentary building were discussing anti-terrorism legislation. Parliament was evacuated following the attack. |
| At least 22 tourists and two Tunisians were also injured, Mr Essid said. Other reports suggest up to 50 could have been hurt. | At least 22 tourists and two Tunisians were also injured, Mr Essid said. Other reports suggest up to 50 could have been hurt. |
| Italian, Polish, Spanish, South African, French and Japanese tourists were among the injured, Mosaique FM radio reported. | Italian, Polish, Spanish, South African, French and Japanese tourists were among the injured, Mosaique FM radio reported. |
| Analysis, BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner | |
| Sadly, this attack did not come out of the blue. | |
| While Tunisia has been spared the catastrophic levels of violence that have plagued other Arab Spring countries like Syria, Yemen and Libya, the country has still suffered from occasional but deadly attacks carried out by Islamist extremists. | |
| In 2013, 22 people were killed, including a suicide bomber who attacked a beach resort in Sousse. Last year 45 people were killed and already this year the death toll has reached 23, with Wednesday's museum raid following an attack on a mountain checkpoint in February that killed 4 police officers. | |
| In all cases the perpetrators are believed to be jihadists. Tunisian fighters make up a disproportionately high number of foreign recruits to Islamic State (IS) in Syria. More than 3,000 have joined, earning themselves a reputation for ferocity both on and off the battlefield. | |
| Mr Essid said: "It is a critical moment in our history, and a defining moment for our future. | Mr Essid said: "It is a critical moment in our history, and a defining moment for our future. |
| "We have not established the identity of the two terrorists... Reports are not final, these two terrorists could have been assisted by two or three other operatives." | "We have not established the identity of the two terrorists... Reports are not final, these two terrorists could have been assisted by two or three other operatives." |
| Security operations were "still under way", he added. | Security operations were "still under way", he added. |
| Parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday evening. Lawmaker Sayida Ounissi said the session would be held inside the Bardo museum. | Parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday evening. Lawmaker Sayida Ounissi said the session would be held inside the Bardo museum. |
| Local television footage showed tourists fleeing to safety, escorted by security forces. | Local television footage showed tourists fleeing to safety, escorted by security forces. |
| A museum employee told Reuters the two attackers "opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum". | A museum employee told Reuters the two attackers "opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum". |
| 'Tanks rolling in' | 'Tanks rolling in' |
| Eyewitness Yasmine Ryan told the BBC she saw "helicopters flying overhead" and "tanks rolling in" as the security situation unfolded. | Eyewitness Yasmine Ryan told the BBC she saw "helicopters flying overhead" and "tanks rolling in" as the security situation unfolded. |
| The attack is a huge blow for Tunisia's tourism industry and its government, which only emerged at the end of a long political transition several months ago, the BBC's Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says. | The attack is a huge blow for Tunisia's tourism industry and its government, which only emerged at the end of a long political transition several months ago, the BBC's Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says. |
| Islamist militants have tried to derail the democratic transition, which, although fragile, remains the most positive result of the Arab Spring in the Middle East, our correspondent adds. | Islamist militants have tried to derail the democratic transition, which, although fragile, remains the most positive result of the Arab Spring in the Middle East, our correspondent adds. |
| The Bardo National Museum | The Bardo National Museum |
| EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini offered her condolences (in French) to the victims' families, and said the EU would "fully support Tunisia in the fight against terrorism". | EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini offered her condolences (in French) to the victims' families, and said the EU would "fully support Tunisia in the fight against terrorism". |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US "stands with the Tunisian people at this difficult time" and would continue to support the government's "efforts to advance a secure, prosperous, and democratic Tunisia". | US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US "stands with the Tunisian people at this difficult time" and would continue to support the government's "efforts to advance a secure, prosperous, and democratic Tunisia". |
| Tourism is a key sector of Tunisia's economy, with large numbers of Europeans visiting the country's resorts. | Tourism is a key sector of Tunisia's economy, with large numbers of Europeans visiting the country's resorts. |
| In 2002, 19 people, including 11 German tourists, were killed in a bomb blast at a synagogue in the resort of Djerba. Al-Qaeda said it had carried out that attack. | In 2002, 19 people, including 11 German tourists, were killed in a bomb blast at a synagogue in the resort of Djerba. Al-Qaeda said it had carried out that attack. |
| Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased in recent months as neighbouring Libya has become increasingly unstable. | Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased in recent months as neighbouring Libya has become increasingly unstable. |
| A large number of Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria and Iraq, triggering worries that returning militants could carry out attacks at home. | A large number of Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria and Iraq, triggering worries that returning militants could carry out attacks at home. |
| Are you in the area? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
| Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text +44 7624 800 100. or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971. | Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text +44 7624 800 100. or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971. |
| Read our terms and conditions. | Read our terms and conditions. |
| Have your say | Have your say |