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Tunisia beach attack: 80 'propagandist' mosques to be closed Tunisia launches security clampdown after resort attack
(about 4 hours later)
Tunisia will shut down about 80 mosques accused of inciting violence, Prime Minister Habib Essid has said, after a beach attack that left 39 people dead. Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid has announced a clampdown on security after an attack on a holiday resort in which 38 people were killed.
The mosques, which operate outside state control, are spreading "venom" and will close within a week, he said. He said army reservists would be deployed to archaeological sites and resorts.
On Friday a gunman opened fire on tourists in the resort town of Sousse. About 80 mosques accused of "spreading venom" will close within a week, he said.
Tunisians, Britons, Germans, Belgians, French and at least one Irish citizen were among those killed in the attack, claimed by Islamic State (IS). Authorities say most of the victims in Friday's attack near Sousse were Britons. The gunman was shot dead.
The gunman was shot dead by police. Officials say he was a student not previously known to authorities. Officials say he was a student not previously known to authorities.
This was the second major attack on tourists in Tunisia since March, when militants killed 22 people, mainly foreigners, at a museum in the capital. Five Britons were confirmed dead and the Foreign Office warned the death toll could rise.
Tunisians, Germans, Belgians, French and at least one Irish citizen were also among those killed in the attack, which was claimed by Islamic State (IS). Thirty-six people are injured, officials say.
It was the second major attack on tourists in Tunisia since March, when militants killed 22 people, mainly foreigners, at Bardo museum in Tunis.
'People screaming''People screaming'
Speaking at a news conference in Tunis, Mr Essid said: "Some mosques continue to spread their propaganda and their venom to promote terrorism." Speaking at a news conference in Tunis, Mr Essid said some mosques outside government control were spreading "their propaganda and their venom to promote terrorism" and would be shut down.
He said they would be closed by the interior ministry.
Day of attacks
The shooting in Tunisia comes on the same day as:
France, Kuwait and Tunisia attacks: What we know
Who could be behind Tunisia attack?
Could attacks be connected?
Mr Essid also vowed to act against parties and groups "acting outside the constitution" - such action could range from a warning to closure.Mr Essid also vowed to act against parties and groups "acting outside the constitution" - such action could range from a warning to closure.
Referring to Friday's attack, Mr Essid said most victims were British, without providing details. He said army reservists would be deployed at sensitive sites to ensure such attacks could not happen again.
Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said at least five Britons were confirmed dead, adding: "We must expect more reports of fatalities".
Security officials said one attacker, who had posed as a swimmer but was carrying a rifle under a parasol, started shooting on the beach before entering the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba, continuing to shoot.
One British holidaymaker in Sousse, Steve Johnson, told the BBC: "We were just lying on the beach as usual and... we heard what we thought at first was fireworks.
"But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people screaming and starting to run."
IS said it was behind Friday's attack, identifying the gunman as Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani. Social media accounts close to the group showed pictures of him.
IS had urged followers to step up assaults during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
At the scene: BBC's Rana Jawad
This was a brazen attack that has affected everyone here.
Tourists gathered in the hotel lobby of the Marhaba Imperial consoling each other. Most were thankful they had survived and described a day where they faced their worst fears: not seeing their children again back home or losing a loved one before their eyes.
A woman sat in alone in a corner silently crying with her packed luggage sitting beside her. So many here were frustrated at having to stay at the scene of the attack tonight, but one busload after another took many of the residents away.
These are sobering times for a country, and people now reeling from the effects of deadly attacks on tourists.
But the people of Sousse remain defiant: they are socialising with friends and family, and large parts of the city are still lit up on what is arguably its darkest day yet.
'He took a bullet for me''He took a bullet for me'
One survivor told the BBC how her fiance, a Welsh tourist, had been shot three times as he used his body as a shield. One survivor told how her fiance, a Welsh tourist, was shot three times as he used his body as a shield to protect her.
"He took a bullet for me," said Saera Wilson. "I owe him my life because he threw himself in front of me when the shooting started."He took a bullet for me," said Saera Wilson. "I owe him my life because he threw himself in front of me when the shooting started.
"It was the bravest thing I've ever known. But I just had to leave him under the sunbed because the shooting just kept on coming."It was the bravest thing I've ever known. But I just had to leave him under the sunbed because the shooting just kept on coming.
"I ran back, past bodies on the beach to reach our hotel. It was chaos - there was a body in the hotel pool and it was just full of blood."I ran back, past bodies on the beach to reach our hotel. It was chaos - there was a body in the hotel pool and it was just full of blood.
Welsh tourist was human shieldWelsh tourist was human shield
Most of the dead 'were Britons'
"The country is under threat; the government is under threat," Mr Essid said.
"Without the co-operation of everyone and a show of unity, we cannot win this war. We have won some battles and lost others, but our objective is to win the war".
However, many Tunisians are asking why stricter security measures had not already been put in place following the attack on the Bardo museum, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Tunis.
Security officials said the attacker, who had posed as a swimmer but was carrying a rifle under a parasol, started shooting on the beach before entering the Hotel Imperial Marhaba, continuing to shoot.
A British holidaymaker, Steve Johnson, told the BBC: "We were just lying on the beach as usual and... we heard what we thought at first was fireworks.
"But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people were screaming and starting to run."
IS said it was behind Friday's attack on what it called a "den of vice".
It identified the gunman by the pseudonym of Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani. Social media accounts close to the group showed pictures of him.
At the scene: Rana Jawad, BBC News, Port El Kantaoui
Tourists gathered in the lobby of the Imperial Marhaba consoling each other. Most were thankful they had survived and described a day where they faced their worst fears: not seeing their children again back home or losing a loved one before their eyes.
A woman sat in alone in a corner silently crying with her packed luggage sitting beside her. So many here were frustrated at having to stay at the scene of the attack tonight.
These are sobering times, but the people of Sousse remain defiant: they are socialising with friends and family, and large parts of the city are still lit up on what is arguably its darkest day yet.
Who could be behind Tunisia attack?
Could attacks be connected?
Local media reported a second suspected attacker had been arrested, but this has not been confirmed.
IS had urged followers to step up assaults during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
The UK Foreign Office said the British embassy in Tunis was sending a crisis team to the area.The UK Foreign Office said the British embassy in Tunis was sending a crisis team to the area.
"Any British nationals in these hotels or nearby should remain indoors, and contact their tour operator and the Foreign Office," the FCO said in its updated travel advice."Any British nationals in these hotels or nearby should remain indoors, and contact their tour operator and the Foreign Office," the FCO said in its updated travel advice.
Many of the tourists in hotels affected by the attack left the country overnight with tour operators arranging special flights to take them home. Many of the tourists in hotels affected by the attack left the country overnight, with tour operators arranging special flights to take them home.
Friday's attack was the deadliest in Tunisia's recent history. The country has seen militant Islamists gain strength since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in in 2011.Friday's attack was the deadliest in Tunisia's recent history. The country has seen militant Islamists gain strength since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in in 2011.
Democratic elections after Ben Ali's removal saw the moderate Islamist Ennahda party take power before the secularist Nidaa Tounes government won a parliamentary poll in October.Democratic elections after Ben Ali's removal saw the moderate Islamist Ennahda party take power before the secularist Nidaa Tounes government won a parliamentary poll in October.
However, neither party has been able effectively to combat Islamist violence - which has been made worse by conflict in neighbouring Libya and by Tunisian fighters returning home after joining Islamist campaigns in Iraq and Syria.However, neither party has been able effectively to combat Islamist violence - which has been made worse by conflict in neighbouring Libya and by Tunisian fighters returning home after joining Islamist campaigns in Iraq and Syria.
Day of attacks
The shooting in Tunisia came on the same day as:
France, Kuwait and Tunisia attacks: What we know
Are you in Sousse? Have you been affected by the attack? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Are you in Sousse? Have you been affected by the attack? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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