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Gunmen storm museum in Tunisia, killing at least 8 Police raid museum after armed attackers kill at least 8
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — Gunmen killed at least eight people, including seven tourists, after storming a prominent museum in Tunisia’s capital Tunis, the country’s interior ministry said Wednesday.CAIRO — Gunmen killed at least eight people, including seven tourists, after storming a prominent museum in Tunisia’s capital Tunis, the country’s interior ministry said Wednesday.
Suspected militants seized hostages at the Bardo National Museum, which is located immediately next to the parliament building. Gunfire around 1 p.m, local time sparked panic in the area, witnesses said on social media. A raid by security forces later killed two of the attackers and left at least one officer dead, the Interior Ministry said. It was not immediately clear whether there were other casualties or all those inside the Bardo National Museum were freed.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But it follows mounting bloodshed and clashes in neighboring Libya linked to the expanding presence of militants pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, including a battle last week that killed a most-wanted Tunisian-born extremist.
About 200 tourists were visiting the site at the time, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui. The Tunisian man who was also killed is believed to have worked at the museum.About 200 tourists were visiting the site at the time, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui. The Tunisian man who was also killed is believed to have worked at the museum.
The Bardo museum, the site of 19th century palace, is among the major tourist sites in Tunisia and contains extensive collections of antiquities including Roman mosaics and pieces from Islam’s spread across North Africa. Images posted on social media showed people cowering against walls and amid museum displays. Outside, security forces fanned out around the site.
Tunisia has grappled with rising extremism and Islamist militancy since a popular uprising ousted strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. The Bardo museum, the site of a 19th century palace, is among the major tourist sites in Tunisia and contains extensive collections of antiquities including Roman mosaics and pieces from Islam’s spread across North Africa.
[Tunisia’s new president describes his reformist agenda]
Tunisia has grappled with rising extremism and Islamist militancy since a popular uprising ousted strongman Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
The country of roughly 10 million has been lauded as a model of democratic transition following the Arab Spring, which began with protests in Tunisia when a vegetable seller set himself on fire in December 2010 after complaining of harassment by local officials.The country of roughly 10 million has been lauded as a model of democratic transition following the Arab Spring, which began with protests in Tunisia when a vegetable seller set himself on fire in December 2010 after complaining of harassment by local officials.
Tunisia has largely escaped the bloody civil wars and rampant political instability that have plagued the rest of the countries in the region. Tunisia has largely escaped the bloody civil wars and rampant political instability that have plagued other countries in the region.
But it has also contributed a staggering number of fighters to the ranks of jihadist groups in Syria, including the Islamic State. Successive Tunisian governments have struggled to curb the flow of young Tunisians to battlefields elsewhere in the Middle East.But it has also contributed a staggering number of fighters to the ranks of jihadist groups in Syria, including the Islamic State. Successive Tunisian governments have struggled to curb the flow of young Tunisians to battlefields elsewhere in the Middle East.
At the same time, Tunisian security forces have also fought increasing battles with militants at home. Those jihadists are largely entrenched near the country’s border with Algeria, but have engaged in firefights with Tunisian police in and near the capital recently.At the same time, Tunisian security forces have also fought increasing battles with militants at home. Those jihadists are largely entrenched near the country’s border with Algeria, but have engaged in firefights with Tunisian police in and near the capital recently.
On Sunday, the Tunisian government said a top commander for the Islamic State — and one of Tunisia’s most-wanted militants — was killed while fighting in neighboring Libya.
The Islamic State posted a statement on a militant Web site saying Ahmed al-Rouissi was killed in clashes around Sirte, a stronghold for a group pledging loyalty to the Islamic State.
The 48-year-old Al-Rouissi was considered the mastermind in a string of attacks in Tunisia linked to the a faction known as Ansar al-Shariah, including the 2013 killings of two Western-looking politician leaders, Chokri Belaid and Mohammed Brahmi.
Last month, at least 35 people were killed in triple suicide car bombings in eastern Libya. The attacks were carried out in apparent retaliation for Egyptian airstrikes following the mass beheadings of 21 Christians — all but one Egyptian — but Islamic State militants in Libya.
Murphy reported from Washington.Murphy reported from Washington.
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