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| Security bolstered across Tunisia as rallies decry reach of terrorism | Security bolstered across Tunisia as rallies decry reach of terrorism |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| TUNIS — Tunisian authorities bolstered security across the country Friday amid fears of more attacks after a museum massacre claimed by the Islamic State and carried out by gunmen who apparently trained in Libya. | |
| Security forces were deployed at key sites including the main Mediterranean port in the capital, Tunis, and the headquarters of state radio following a threat against the broadcaster. | |
| An Interior Ministry spokesman said police were aware of a specific threat against Radio Tunisia but gave no other details. The full-scale security patrols were reminiscent of the dispatch of troops across France after a series of attacks in Paris by Islamist gunmen in January. | An Interior Ministry spokesman said police were aware of a specific threat against Radio Tunisia but gave no other details. The full-scale security patrols were reminiscent of the dispatch of troops across France after a series of attacks in Paris by Islamist gunmen in January. |
| As in France, demonstrators in Tunisia were also voicing their resolve to stand up to terrorism in the country that sparked the Arab Spring revolts across the region four years ago. | |
| In Tunis, hundreds of people gathered, waving Tunisian flags in a show of solidarity against the attacks at the world-renowned Bardo National Museum. Some held aloft signs reading “Je Suis Bardo,” French for “I am Bardo,” echoing the defiant phrase “Je Suis Charlie” following the Paris attacks that began at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. | |
| On Thursday, the Islamic State said that two of its fighters had carried out the museum attack that killed 21 foreign tourists — the latest death reported Friday — in a rampage that raised fears of the jihadist group’s growing international footprint. | On Thursday, the Islamic State said that two of its fighters had carried out the museum attack that killed 21 foreign tourists — the latest death reported Friday — in a rampage that raised fears of the jihadist group’s growing international footprint. |
| Rafik Chelli, the Interior Ministry’s top security official, said Friday the attackers had slipped out of Tunisia in December and received weapons training in neighboring Libya. | Rafik Chelli, the Interior Ministry’s top security official, said Friday the attackers had slipped out of Tunisia in December and received weapons training in neighboring Libya. |
| Chelli, speaking on the el-Hiwar el-Tounsi TV channel, said authorities did not have further details. But a friend of one of the slain gunmen said the training was in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, which is partly controlled by groups loyal to the Islamic State. | Chelli, speaking on the el-Hiwar el-Tounsi TV channel, said authorities did not have further details. But a friend of one of the slain gunmen said the training was in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, which is partly controlled by groups loyal to the Islamic State. |
| [Museum tourist: “I was hoping just to survive.”] | [Museum tourist: “I was hoping just to survive.”] |
| In an audio recording distributed online, the Islamic State said the gunmen, both Tunisians, struck “citizens of the Crusader countries” in the attack Wednesday, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group. | In an audio recording distributed online, the Islamic State said the gunmen, both Tunisians, struck “citizens of the Crusader countries” in the attack Wednesday, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group. |
| The statement marked the first time the Islamic State has claimed an operation in the North African nation, although the group boasts of thousands of Tunisian fighters among its ranks in Iraq and Syria. It was not possible to independently confirm the claim by the Islamic State. | The statement marked the first time the Islamic State has claimed an operation in the North African nation, although the group boasts of thousands of Tunisian fighters among its ranks in Iraq and Syria. It was not possible to independently confirm the claim by the Islamic State. |
| In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday there was no clear evidence yet linking the Islamic State to the Tunis attacks. | |
| The two militants — who were killed in a shootout at the museum Wednesday — appear to have been radicalized in their home towns in a province bordering Algeria and apparently traveled to Libya for training, according to local media reports and an interview with a friend of one of the militants’ families. Their brazen assault has highlighted the danger that the violent jihadist movement poses to this nation, which gave birth to the Arab Spring and is struggling to maintain its democracy. | The two militants — who were killed in a shootout at the museum Wednesday — appear to have been radicalized in their home towns in a province bordering Algeria and apparently traveled to Libya for training, according to local media reports and an interview with a friend of one of the militants’ families. Their brazen assault has highlighted the danger that the violent jihadist movement poses to this nation, which gave birth to the Arab Spring and is struggling to maintain its democracy. |
| “I want the Tunisian people to understand that we are in a merciless war against terrorism and that these savage minorities do not frighten us,” Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said Thursday. | “I want the Tunisian people to understand that we are in a merciless war against terrorism and that these savage minorities do not frighten us,” Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said Thursday. |
| [Read: Why Tunisia, the Arab Spring’s sole success story, suffers from Islamist violence] | [Read: Why Tunisia, the Arab Spring’s sole success story, suffers from Islamist violence] |
| Tunisian authorities said nine people were arrested in connection with the attack, which killed tourists from countries including Italy, Spain, Britain, Belgium, France, Colombia and Japan. | Tunisian authorities said nine people were arrested in connection with the attack, which killed tourists from countries including Italy, Spain, Britain, Belgium, France, Colombia and Japan. |
| In Brussels, French President Francois Hollande told reporters Friday that a third French citizen died of injuries suffered in the attack. | In Brussels, French President Francois Hollande told reporters Friday that a third French citizen died of injuries suffered in the attack. |
| In addition, at least one Tunisian security officer died. Officials neither provided details on the identities of the arrested suspects nor described their alleged roles. | In addition, at least one Tunisian security officer died. Officials neither provided details on the identities of the arrested suspects nor described their alleged roles. |
| Authorities named Yassine Laabidi and Saber — also known as Hatem — Khachnaoui as the militants who stormed the Bardo National Museum. Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid had said earlier Thursday that their links to jihadist groups were unclear. | Authorities named Yassine Laabidi and Saber — also known as Hatem — Khachnaoui as the militants who stormed the Bardo National Museum. Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid had said earlier Thursday that their links to jihadist groups were unclear. |
| But a friend of Khachnaoui’s family said in an interview that police detained three of the young man’s relatives in a town in central Tunisia. | But a friend of Khachnaoui’s family said in an interview that police detained three of the young man’s relatives in a town in central Tunisia. |
| The friend, Nidal Abdelli, said that Khachnaoui, 19, disappeared about three months ago and that the Tunisian Interior Ministry later informed the family that he had traveled to Derna, in eastern Libya, apparently to receive training. A group loyal to the Islamic State is reported to control parts of Derna, although other jihadist groups are also active there, including the al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar al-Sharia. | The friend, Nidal Abdelli, said that Khachnaoui, 19, disappeared about three months ago and that the Tunisian Interior Ministry later informed the family that he had traveled to Derna, in eastern Libya, apparently to receive training. A group loyal to the Islamic State is reported to control parts of Derna, although other jihadist groups are also active there, including the al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar al-Sharia. |
| Abdelli, 29, said the Khachnaouis are a poor family from the town of Sbetla in Kasserine province. Police have arrested Saber Khachnaoui’s father, sister and a brother, Abdelli said. He also stated that when Saber disappeared, his father notified police in Kasserine and the Interior Ministry in Tunis. Nonetheless, the young man managed to reenter the country. | Abdelli, 29, said the Khachnaouis are a poor family from the town of Sbetla in Kasserine province. Police have arrested Saber Khachnaoui’s father, sister and a brother, Abdelli said. He also stated that when Saber disappeared, his father notified police in Kasserine and the Interior Ministry in Tunis. Nonetheless, the young man managed to reenter the country. |
| “He’s a kid,” Abdelli said of Saber. “He doesn’t know anything. But he’s a victim as much as he is a terrorist. He’s a pawn in a much bigger game.” | “He’s a kid,” Abdelli said of Saber. “He doesn’t know anything. But he’s a victim as much as he is a terrorist. He’s a pawn in a much bigger game.” |
| “And there was no system in place to prevent him from being radicalized or to get him out once he had been brainwashed,” he said. | “And there was no system in place to prevent him from being radicalized or to get him out once he had been brainwashed,” he said. |
| Authoritarian leaders for decades imposed secularism on this Mediterranean nation of about 11 million people, most of whom are Muslim. But mass demonstrations in 2011 by citizens angry about corruption and unemployment forced autocratic leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country. In the more democratic period that followed, extremist groups were able to recruit with greater freedom. | Authoritarian leaders for decades imposed secularism on this Mediterranean nation of about 11 million people, most of whom are Muslim. But mass demonstrations in 2011 by citizens angry about corruption and unemployment forced autocratic leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country. In the more democratic period that followed, extremist groups were able to recruit with greater freedom. |
| Kasserine was one of the provinces where protests were strong during the revolution, Abdelli said. | Kasserine was one of the provinces where protests were strong during the revolution, Abdelli said. |
| “It’s clear that the economic and social issues in places like Kasserine have not been addressed since 2011,” Abdelli said. | “It’s clear that the economic and social issues in places like Kasserine have not been addressed since 2011,” Abdelli said. |
| In an interview with RTL, a French radio network, Prime Minister Essid said Laabidi had been flagged to intelligence officials, although not for “anything special.” His remarks raised questions about why Tunisian counterterrorism officials had not been more effective. | In an interview with RTL, a French radio network, Prime Minister Essid said Laabidi had been flagged to intelligence officials, although not for “anything special.” His remarks raised questions about why Tunisian counterterrorism officials had not been more effective. |
| [Read: Tunisia sends most foreign fighters to Islamic State in Syria] | [Read: Tunisia sends most foreign fighters to Islamic State in Syria] |
| At the museum on Thursday, police deployed riot vans, barbed wire and dogs as they guarded the entrance. | At the museum on Thursday, police deployed riot vans, barbed wire and dogs as they guarded the entrance. |
| The attack appeared intended to strike a blow to tourism, a major source of Tunisia’s revenue. It was the worst militant violence here in a decade. | The attack appeared intended to strike a blow to tourism, a major source of Tunisia’s revenue. It was the worst militant violence here in a decade. |
| Two cruise ships, whose passengers were among those killed, reached Spain on Friday. | Two cruise ships, whose passengers were among those killed, reached Spain on Friday. |
| In the port of Palma, Spanish cruise ship passenger Catalina Llinas told reporters she and her husband visited the Roman ruins of Carthage instead of joining the trip to the Bardo National Museum. | In the port of Palma, Spanish cruise ship passenger Catalina Llinas told reporters she and her husband visited the Roman ruins of Carthage instead of joining the trip to the Bardo National Museum. |
| “It could have been us,” she said. | “It could have been us,” she said. |
| Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. | Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. |
| Watch: Islamic State claims responsibility for museum rampage | Watch: Islamic State claims responsibility for museum rampage |
| Attack stokes fears across North Africa | Attack stokes fears across North Africa |
| Bardo museum is home to amazing treasures | Bardo museum is home to amazing treasures |