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Police raid Tunisia museum after gunmen kill foreign tourists Tunisian police raid museum after gunmen kill foreign tourists
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — Security forces in Tunisia stormed the country’s most prominent museum Wednesday, freeing hostages and ending a siege by gunmen whose ambush-style attack killed at least 17 foreign tourists and a Tunisian worker, officials said.CAIRO — Security forces in Tunisia stormed the country’s most prominent museum Wednesday, freeing hostages and ending a siege by gunmen whose ambush-style attack killed at least 17 foreign tourists and a Tunisian worker, officials said.
The raid by authorities also killed two suspected gunmen and left one security official dead, Tunisia’s Interior Ministry said, after the deadliest attack in more than a decade in the tiny North African nation.The raid by authorities also killed two suspected gunmen and left one security official dead, Tunisia’s Interior Ministry said, after the deadliest attack in more than a decade in the tiny North African nation.
Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, was quoted by news reports as saying the death toll among the foreigners rose to at least 17. The breakdown on the nationalities was not immediately clear, but Essid said the victims include citizens from Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain.Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, was quoted by news reports as saying the death toll among the foreigners rose to at least 17. The breakdown on the nationalities was not immediately clear, but Essid said the victims include citizens from Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain.
Essid also said as many as three suspected attackers could have escaped and may be on the loose, but gave no other details. Essid also said as many as three suspected attackers could have escaped and may be on the loose, but he gave no other details.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on the Bardo National Museum in the capital, Tunis.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on the Bardo National Museum in the capital, Tunis.
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.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.About 200 tourists were visiting the site at the time, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui.
The attack began as gunmen opened fire on tourists getting off buses outside the museum, which is located near the country’s Parliament building, news reports said. The attackers then fled into the museum’s marble and stone galleries, taking hostages or forcing visitors to hide in fear, the reports said. The attack began as gunmen opened fire on tourists getting off buses outside the museum, which is located near the country’s parliament building, news reports said. The attackers then fled into the museum’s marble and stone galleries, taking hostages or forcing visitors to hide in fear, the reports said.
Images posted on social media showed people cowering against walls and amid museum displays. Outside, security forces fanned out before mounting the assault. Dozens of people soon poured out of the museum’s doors.Images posted on social media showed people cowering against walls and amid museum displays. Outside, security forces fanned out before mounting the assault. Dozens of people soon poured out of the museum’s doors.
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.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’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.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 other countries in the region.Tunisia has largely escaped the bloody civil wars and rampant political instability that have plagued other countries in the region.
[Tunisia sends most foreign fighters to Islamic State in Syria]
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.
[Why the Islamic State has its eye on Libya] 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.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 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. The 48-year-old 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-oriented political 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. 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 of them Egyptian — by Islamic State militants in Libya.
Wednesday’s assault was the worst bloodshed targeting foreigners in Tunisia since an al-Qaeda suicide bombing in 2002 killed 21 people at a historic synagogue on the tourist island of Djerba. The death toll included 14 Germans, five Tunisians and two French citizens.Wednesday’s assault was the worst bloodshed targeting foreigners in Tunisia since an al-Qaeda suicide bombing in 2002 killed 21 people at a historic synagogue on the tourist island of Djerba. The death toll included 14 Germans, five Tunisians and two French citizens.
Murphy reported from Washington.Murphy reported from Washington.
Read more:
How Egypt’s political unrest spills over to TunisiaHow Egypt’s political unrest spills over to Tunisia
Tunisia’s economic quagmireTunisia’s economic quagmire