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| Terror attacks: gunmen open fire on Tunisia tourist beach – live updates | Terror attacks: gunmen open fire on Tunisia tourist beach – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.05pm BST16:05 | |
| The Irish Times is reporting that an unnamed Irish woman in her 50s, who was on holiday with her husband, is among the dead in Tunisia. No nationalities of other victims have been revealed so far. | |
| 4.03pm BST16:03 | |
| Tunisian state television has raised the death toll from the beach attack in Sousse to 28 dead and 36 wounded, AP reports. | |
| 4.01pm BST16:01 | |
| A flight from Brussels to Enfidha, around 50km from Sousse, turned round in mid-air due to the terrorist attack: | |
| @andym958 @flightradar24 JAF5017 is turning back to Belgium due to current terrorist attack in Tunesia. | |
| 3.49pm BST15:49 | |
| Here is a picture of a suspect being led away in connection with the Tunisia attack: | |
| 3.47pm BST15:47 | |
| French officials have said the decapitated victim in the factory attack in France was the suspect’s employer. | |
| Updated at 4.04pm BST | |
| 3.35pm BST15:35 | |
| Rafik Chelli, one of Tunisia’s top security officials, told Mosaique FM that the gunman shot by security forces after attacking a Tunisian beach resort was unknown to authorities. From AP: | |
| Chelli said the man, from the city of Kairouan, came from the beach hiding his Kalashnikov under an umbrella before opening fire on the tourists. From there he entered the Hotel Imperial through the pool, shooting people as he went. | |
| Chelli said there were many foreigners among the victims but he did not have an exact count of the nationalities. | |
| He said authorities had a plan to protect the hotels during the month of Ramadan but this was an isolated operation that is difficult to counter against and there is never zero risk. | |
| 3.33pm BST15:33 | 3.33pm BST15:33 |
| My colleague Tom McCarthy, in New York, said that a US justice department spokesman, when asked whether an investigation is underway of potential links between the incidents in Tunisia, France and Kuwait, merely said: “I cannot confirm anything at this time and have no comment.” | My colleague Tom McCarthy, in New York, said that a US justice department spokesman, when asked whether an investigation is underway of potential links between the incidents in Tunisia, France and Kuwait, merely said: “I cannot confirm anything at this time and have no comment.” |
| 3.30pm BST15:30 | 3.30pm BST15:30 |
| Death toll in Kuwait attack rises to 25 | |
| The death toll from the attack on a Shia mosque in Kuwait, has risen to 25, with 202 injured, the country’s interior ministry said. The attack, unlike those in Tunisia and Paris, has been claimed by Isis. | |
| Updated at 3.57pm BST | |
| 3.26pm BST15:26 | 3.26pm BST15:26 |
| Here is another witness account, from Steve Johnson, who was staying at the Imperial Marhaba hotel. | Here is another witness account, from Steve Johnson, who was staying at the Imperial Marhaba hotel. |
| He said: | He said: |
| We were just laying on the beach as usual... and we heard what at first we thought was fireworks but it was soon pretty obvious that that it was not fireworks, it was firearms being discharged, and people screaming and starting to run from along the beach towards us. | We were just laying on the beach as usual... and we heard what at first we thought was fireworks but it was soon pretty obvious that that it was not fireworks, it was firearms being discharged, and people screaming and starting to run from along the beach towards us. |
| Me and my friend said: ‘That’s guns, let’s go’ and we shouted to everybody around us who joined the sort of mass rush from the beach. People running in all directions around us. | Me and my friend said: ‘That’s guns, let’s go’ and we shouted to everybody around us who joined the sort of mass rush from the beach. People running in all directions around us. |
| Once at the hotel, he said: | Once at the hotel, he said: |
| We tried to organise people to get themselves concealed away from windows and got the staff to lock up the doors, and we stayed there until we started to see armed police officers on the site and waited until we were told it was safe to come out. | We tried to organise people to get themselves concealed away from windows and got the staff to lock up the doors, and we stayed there until we started to see armed police officers on the site and waited until we were told it was safe to come out. |
| The place has been completely locked down now by the military and a lot of armed police officers. The majority of people have gone to their rooms.” | The place has been completely locked down now by the military and a lot of armed police officers. The majority of people have gone to their rooms.” |
| He said the authorities were now “removing a number of bodies from around the pool area”. | He said the authorities were now “removing a number of bodies from around the pool area”. |
| 3.17pm BST15:17 | 3.17pm BST15:17 |
| At least 16 people have been killed and dozens wounded in an attack on a Shia mosque in Kuwait today. There is nothing to connect it to the attacks in Tunisia and France. The atrocity in Kuwait is the only one to have been claimed by Islamic State. From AP: | |
| A posting on a Twitter account known to belong to Isis said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt. The attack was claimed by an Isis affiliate calling itself the Najd Province, the same group that claimed a pair of bombing attacks on Shia mosques in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. | A posting on a Twitter account known to belong to Isis said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt. The attack was claimed by an Isis affiliate calling itself the Najd Province, the same group that claimed a pair of bombing attacks on Shia mosques in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. |
| Friday’s explosion struck the Imam Sadiq mosque in the neighbourhood of al-Sawabir, a residential and shopping district of Kuwait City... Police formed a cordon around the mosque’s complex immediately after the explosion, banning people from entering or gathering near the area. Ambulances could be seen ferrying the wounded from the site... | Friday’s explosion struck the Imam Sadiq mosque in the neighbourhood of al-Sawabir, a residential and shopping district of Kuwait City... Police formed a cordon around the mosque’s complex immediately after the explosion, banning people from entering or gathering near the area. Ambulances could be seen ferrying the wounded from the site... |
| Ahmad al-Shawaf, said worshippers were standing shoulder to shoulder in group prayer when the explosion struck near the door of the mosque. Al-Shawaf said the explosion took place near the end of a second prayer that is traditional to Shia muslims and which follows the main midday Friday prayer. | Ahmad al-Shawaf, said worshippers were standing shoulder to shoulder in group prayer when the explosion struck near the door of the mosque. Al-Shawaf said the explosion took place near the end of a second prayer that is traditional to Shia muslims and which follows the main midday Friday prayer. |
| He reported that witnesses standing behind him said they saw a man walk in, stand in the back with other congregants and detonate his device ... | He reported that witnesses standing behind him said they saw a man walk in, stand in the back with other congregants and detonate his device ... |
| Isis regards Shia Muslims as heretics, and refers to them derogatively as “rafideen” or “rejectionists”. The Isis Twitter statement said the bomber had targeted a “temple of the apostates”. | Isis regards Shia Muslims as heretics, and refers to them derogatively as “rafideen” or “rejectionists”. The Isis Twitter statement said the bomber had targeted a “temple of the apostates”. |
| Updated at 3.40pm BST | |
| 3.05pm BST15:05 | 3.05pm BST15:05 |
| A UK foreign office spokesman said: | A UK foreign office spokesman said: |
| We are aware of the ongoing situation at a hotel resort in Sousse, Tunisia. We are urgently looking to establish further details and whether any British citizens are involved. | We are aware of the ongoing situation at a hotel resort in Sousse, Tunisia. We are urgently looking to establish further details and whether any British citizens are involved. |
| In its travel advice it advises against travel to certain areas, including the borders with Algeria and Libya but adds: “424,707 British nationals visited Tunisia in 2014. Most British tourists stay in the coastal resorts and most visits are trouble free.” | In its travel advice it advises against travel to certain areas, including the borders with Algeria and Libya but adds: “424,707 British nationals visited Tunisia in 2014. Most British tourists stay in the coastal resorts and most visits are trouble free.” |
| 3.00pm BST15:00 | 3.00pm BST15:00 |
| Here are a couple of maps created by my colleague Paddy Allen showing the location of the hotel in Tunisia where the attack took place as well as an overhead view of the resort. | Here are a couple of maps created by my colleague Paddy Allen showing the location of the hotel in Tunisia where the attack took place as well as an overhead view of the resort. |
| 2.53pm BST14:53 | 2.53pm BST14:53 |
| The three attacks today, in Tunisia, Kuwait and France come just days after Islamic State (Isis) spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani used an audio message to urge jihadis to turn the holy month of Ramadan into “a time of “calamity for the infidels … Shias and apostate Muslims”. | The three attacks today, in Tunisia, Kuwait and France come just days after Islamic State (Isis) spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani used an audio message to urge jihadis to turn the holy month of Ramadan into “a time of “calamity for the infidels … Shias and apostate Muslims”. |
| So far there is no evidence that the atrocities were coordinated. Isis has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in Kuwait, although high profile incidents are often claimed by multiple groups after the event in a bid to boost their notoriety. | So far there is no evidence that the atrocities were coordinated. Isis has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in Kuwait, although high profile incidents are often claimed by multiple groups after the event in a bid to boost their notoriety. |
| Updated at 3.15pm BST | Updated at 3.15pm BST |
| 2.28pm BST14:28 | 2.28pm BST14:28 |
| Police are still clearing the area around the Imperial Marhaba hotel. The body of one suspect lay at the scene with a Kalashnikov assault rifle by his side. He was shot in an exchange of gunfire, a security source at the scene told Reuters. | Police are still clearing the area around the Imperial Marhaba hotel. The body of one suspect lay at the scene with a Kalashnikov assault rifle by his side. He was shot in an exchange of gunfire, a security source at the scene told Reuters. |
| A hotel worker at the site said: | A hotel worker at the site said: |
| One attacker opened fire with a Kalashnikov on tourists and Tunisians on the beach of the hotel. It was just one attacker. He was a young guy dressed in shorts like he was a tourist himself. | One attacker opened fire with a Kalashnikov on tourists and Tunisians on the beach of the hotel. It was just one attacker. He was a young guy dressed in shorts like he was a tourist himself. |
| Updated at 2.50pm BST | Updated at 2.50pm BST |
| 2.26pm BST14:26 | 2.26pm BST14:26 |
| Graphic photos have been posted on Instagram that purport to show the beach outside the hotel. The beach is deserted, full of empty sun loungers, bar from a man in swimming shorts lying face down in a pool of blood. | Graphic photos have been posted on Instagram that purport to show the beach outside the hotel. The beach is deserted, full of empty sun loungers, bar from a man in swimming shorts lying face down in a pool of blood. |
| Updated at 2.47pm BST | Updated at 2.47pm BST |
| 2.21pm BST14:21 | 2.21pm BST14:21 |
| Vikram Dodd | Vikram Dodd |
| Britain’s Metropolitan police said it was “monitoring the situation” after the attacks in Tunisia and France. It said it constantly reviews security and urged the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. It said the threat level to the UK from international terrorism remained “severe”, which means an attack is highly likely. | Britain’s Metropolitan police said it was “monitoring the situation” after the attacks in Tunisia and France. It said it constantly reviews security and urged the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. It said the threat level to the UK from international terrorism remained “severe”, which means an attack is highly likely. |
| Updated at 2.46pm BST | Updated at 2.46pm BST |
| 2.20pm BST14:20 | 2.20pm BST14:20 |
| Andrew Sparrow | Andrew Sparrow |
| David Cameron said the British government’s Cobra emergency committee would meeting in London this afternoon to discuss the implications of the terror atrocities. | David Cameron said the British government’s Cobra emergency committee would meeting in London this afternoon to discuss the implications of the terror atrocities. |
| At a news conference in Brussels at the end of an EU summit, the British prime minister condemned the “appalling” attacks and offered “sympathy, condolences and solidarity”. | At a news conference in Brussels at the end of an EU summit, the British prime minister condemned the “appalling” attacks and offered “sympathy, condolences and solidarity”. |
| He went on: “This is a threat that faces all of us. These events have taken place in Tunisia and in France but they can take place anywhere. We all face this threat.” | He went on: “This is a threat that faces all of us. These events have taken place in Tunisia and in France but they can take place anywhere. We all face this threat.” |
| A minister would be chairing the Cobra meeting, he said, to ensure “we are doing everything we can to cooperate and coordinate with other countries” and to share information with them. | A minister would be chairing the Cobra meeting, he said, to ensure “we are doing everything we can to cooperate and coordinate with other countries” and to share information with them. |
| He said the government was already engaged in the fight against terrorism, but that it was also important to challenge the causes of radicalisation. | He said the government was already engaged in the fight against terrorism, but that it was also important to challenge the causes of radicalisation. |
| We also have to deal - perhaps more important than anything - with this poisonous, radical narrative that is turning so many young minds. And we have to combat it with everything that we have. | We also have to deal - perhaps more important than anything - with this poisonous, radical narrative that is turning so many young minds. And we have to combat it with everything that we have. |
| The people who do these things, they sometimes claim that they do it in the name of Islam. They don’t. Islam is a religion of peace. They do it in the name of a twisted and perverted ideology that we have to confront with everything that we have. And we must stop the poisoning of these young minds in our country, in other European countries, and around the world. | The people who do these things, they sometimes claim that they do it in the name of Islam. They don’t. Islam is a religion of peace. They do it in the name of a twisted and perverted ideology that we have to confront with everything that we have. And we must stop the poisoning of these young minds in our country, in other European countries, and around the world. |
| Updated at 2.43pm BST | Updated at 2.43pm BST |
| 2.18pm BST14:18 | 2.18pm BST14:18 |
| John Yeoman on Twitter described the terror as it unfolded: | John Yeoman on Twitter described the terror as it unfolded: |
| There has been a shooting on the beach at our hotel it's been going on for 20 mins | There has been a shooting on the beach at our hotel it's been going on for 20 mins |
| We were in the pool when we heard automatic gun fire. People ran past saying there was an armed man on the beach | We were in the pool when we heard automatic gun fire. People ran past saying there was an armed man on the beach |
| We don't know if the police or army are here we are very scared | We don't know if the police or army are here we are very scared |
| Hope it's enough pic.twitter.com/XaW4yTpplU | Hope it's enough pic.twitter.com/XaW4yTpplU |
| The gunman was shout in our hotel by armed police there a reports of a child amongst the dead. We are all in shock here. | The gunman was shout in our hotel by armed police there a reports of a child amongst the dead. We are all in shock here. |
| 2.08pm BST14:08 | 2.08pm BST14:08 |
| According to some estimates there are more Tunisians fighting for Islamic State (Isis) than combatants from any other single country, even though it is one of the most secular countries in the Arab world. | According to some estimates there are more Tunisians fighting for Islamic State (Isis) than combatants from any other single country, even though it is one of the most secular countries in the Arab world. |
| The attackers behind March’s attack on the National Bardo Museum, which also targeted tourists, were believed to have returned from fighting in neighbouring Libya. | The attackers behind March’s attack on the National Bardo Museum, which also targeted tourists, were believed to have returned from fighting in neighbouring Libya. |
| In February, Tunisia arrested 32 would-be attackers, some of whom were returning from fighting in Syria. Officials accused them of planning “spectacular” attacks. | In February, Tunisia arrested 32 would-be attackers, some of whom were returning from fighting in Syria. Officials accused them of planning “spectacular” attacks. |
| Updated at 2.42pm BST | Updated at 2.42pm BST |
| 1.57pm BST13:57 | 1.57pm BST13:57 |
| Here is audio of an interview with Susan Ricketts and her sister, who told Sky News they were on the beach when they heard gunfire. Ricketts said: | Here is audio of an interview with Susan Ricketts and her sister, who told Sky News they were on the beach when they heard gunfire. Ricketts said: |
| Everybody just started running in and screaming. The whole place just cleared. | Everybody just started running in and screaming. The whole place just cleared. |
| 1.55pm BST13:55 | 1.55pm BST13:55 |
| Interior ministry: most of the dead are tourists | Interior ministry: most of the dead are tourists |
| The interior ministry says most of the dead are tourists, according to AP. The attack has echoes of that on the National Bardo museum in Tunis, in March, which saw 22 people killed, mostly foreign tourists. | The interior ministry says most of the dead are tourists, according to AP. The attack has echoes of that on the National Bardo museum in Tunis, in March, which saw 22 people killed, mostly foreign tourists. |
| Updated at 2.41pm BST | Updated at 2.41pm BST |
| 1.40pm BST13:40 | 1.40pm BST13:40 |
| An Irish woman on holiday with her two sons in the resort, described how she grabbed her children and ran for their lives when they heard gunfire erupting from one of the hotels. | An Irish woman on holiday with her two sons in the resort, described how she grabbed her children and ran for their lives when they heard gunfire erupting from one of the hotels. |
| Elizabeth O’Brien, from Dublin, told RTE raido: | Elizabeth O’Brien, from Dublin, told RTE raido: |
| We were on the beach, my sons were in the sea and I just got out of the sea. It was about 12 o’clock and I just looked up about 500 metres from me and I saw a (hot air) balloon collapse down, then rapid firing, then I saw two of the people who were going to go up in the balloon start to run towards me - because I thought it was fireworks,. | We were on the beach, my sons were in the sea and I just got out of the sea. It was about 12 o’clock and I just looked up about 500 metres from me and I saw a (hot air) balloon collapse down, then rapid firing, then I saw two of the people who were going to go up in the balloon start to run towards me - because I thought it was fireworks,. |
| So, I thought ‘oh my God, it sounds like gunfire’, so I just ran to the sea to my children and grabbed our things and as I was running towards the hotel, the waiters and the security on the beach started saying ‘run, run run!’ and we just ran to our room, which is like a little bungalow. So we are actually trapped in our room. | So, I thought ‘oh my God, it sounds like gunfire’, so I just ran to the sea to my children and grabbed our things and as I was running towards the hotel, the waiters and the security on the beach started saying ‘run, run run!’ and we just ran to our room, which is like a little bungalow. So we are actually trapped in our room. |
| O’Brien said the Irish consul in Madrid, Spain, called her to say it was a terrorist attack in the hotel next door and told her to stay where she was. She said: | O’Brien said the Irish consul in Madrid, Spain, called her to say it was a terrorist attack in the hotel next door and told her to stay where she was. She said: |
| My travel agent told me to go to the reception to speak to the rep, but I’m afraid. I’m stuck in the room with my two sons, not knowing what’s going on. | My travel agent told me to go to the reception to speak to the rep, but I’m afraid. I’m stuck in the room with my two sons, not knowing what’s going on. |
| 1.33pm BST13:33 | 1.33pm BST13:33 |
| A British tourist close to the scene of the attack has described his experiences to Sky News. | A British tourist close to the scene of the attack has described his experiences to Sky News. |
| Gary Pine said he was on the beach and heard what “we thought was firecrackers going off” 100 yards away, followed by an explosion from the next hotel complex along. | Gary Pine said he was on the beach and heard what “we thought was firecrackers going off” 100 yards away, followed by an explosion from the next hotel complex along. |
| “There was a mass exodus off the beach,” he said. He said his son had seen someone get shot on the beach. | “There was a mass exodus off the beach,” he said. He said his son had seen someone get shot on the beach. |
| He said guests at his hotel were first told to lock themselves in their rooms, and later to gather in the lobby. | He said guests at his hotel were first told to lock themselves in their rooms, and later to gather in the lobby. |
| 1.30pm BST13:30 | 1.30pm BST13:30 |
| Opening summary | Opening summary |
| At least 27 people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in the Tunisian beach resort of Sousse, according to an interior ministry official. | At least 27 people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in the Tunisian beach resort of Sousse, according to an interior ministry official. |
| The attack was on the Imperial Marhaba hotel, a source and local radio said. | The attack was on the Imperial Marhaba hotel, a source and local radio said. |
| A security source at the scene said the body of one gunman armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle lay where police had shot him dead. It was unclear whether there were other assailants. | A security source at the scene said the body of one gunman armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle lay where police had shot him dead. It was unclear whether there were other assailants. |
| Sousse, some 150 kilometres from Tunis, is a popular resort for both Tunisians and Europeans. | Sousse, some 150 kilometres from Tunis, is a popular resort for both Tunisians and Europeans. |
| Updated at 1.33pm BST | Updated at 1.33pm BST |