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Tunisia prime minister to shut mosques inciting terrorism as Isis claims attack Tunisia attack: Cameron says UK must prepare for high death toll
(35 minutes later)
The majority of tourists killed in an Islamic State extremist’s attack on a Tunisian beach were British, Tunisia’s prime minister has said, as planes evacuating holidaymakers began arriving back in the UK. The UK public needs to be prepared for the fact that many of those killed in the “savage” attack by an Islamic State extremist at a Tunisian beach resort were British, David Cameron has said.
IS has claimed responsibility for the killings in the popular holiday resort close to the town of Sousse, in which a young man pulled a Kalashnikov from a beach umbrella and began firing, killing at least 38 people. The prime minister’s warning from Downing Street on Saturday, which echoed earlier comments made by his Tunisian counterpart, Habib Essid, came as planes evacuating holidaymakers began arriving back in the UK.
An initial investigation by Tunisian authorities has shown the gunman Seifeddine Rezgui, who was killed by police, was not previously known to authorities, prime minister Habib Essid said. Rezgui is understood to have come from the town of Gaafour in the governorate of Siliana and to be a student at Kairouan university. Isis has claimed responsibility for the killings in the popular holiday resort close to the town of Sousse, in which a young man pulled a Kalashnikov from a beach umbrella and began firing, killing at least 39 people.
The majority of those killed were British, Essid has reportedly said. The British prime minister, David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Saturday. Five of those killed have so far been confirmed as Britons by the British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, but he warned that number could rise. An initial investigation by Tunisian authorities has shown that the gunman, Seifeddine Rezgui, who was killed by police, was not previously known to authorities, Essid said. Rezgui is understood to have come from the town of Gaafour in the governorate of Siliana and to be a student at Kairouan University.
The Site Intelligence Group reported Isis had claimed credit for Friday’s attack on its Twitter account, referring to the gunman by his jihadi pseudonym Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani, as Essid said he would immediately close mosques outside the control of the ministry of religious affairs and call army reservists into active service and place them around the country. Cameron will chair a meeting of the British government’s Cobra emergency committee on Saturday.
“No mosque that does not conform to the law will be tolerated,” he said, referring to those that incite to terrorism. The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said five of those killed have so far been confirmed as Britons, but he warned that number could rise.
Meanwhile, more survivors’ stories and details of the victims began to emerge. British tourist Tom Richards described the gunman as in his early 20s with long black hair and a beard when he faced him in a hotel corridor. The holidaymaker, who was there with his mother, escaped when the gunman inexplicably stopped firing. The Site Intelligence Group reported that Isis had claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack on its Twitter account, referring to the gunman by his jihadi pseudonym Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani.
Essid said he would immediately close mosques outside the control of the ministry of religious affairs and call army reservists into active service around the country.
“No mosque that does not conform to the law will be tolerated,” he said, referring to those that incite terrorism.
Meanwhile, more survivors’ stories and details of the victims began to emerge. The British tourist Tom Richards, who faced the gunman in a hotel corridor, described him as being in his early 20s with long black hair and a beard. Richards, who was there with his mother, escaped when the gunman inexplicably stopped firing.
Related: Tunisia attack: 'He looked right at me – I thought I was dead,' says touristRelated: Tunisia attack: 'He looked right at me – I thought I was dead,' says tourist
Welshman Matthew James survived being shot three times when he used his body to shield his fiancée, Saera Wilson, during the shooting on Friday. The Welshman Matthew James survived being shot three times when he used his body to shield his fiancée, Saera Wilson, during the shooting.
One of the dead was an Irish woman named as Lorna Carty, a nurse and mother of two from Co Meath. She had been in the resort with her husband Declan who had recently undergone heart surgery. It is understood the couple were given the holiday as a present from a family member to help with his recuperation. One of those killed has been named as Lorna Carty, a nurse and mother of two from County Meath in Ireland. She had been in the resort with her husband, Declan, who had recently undergone heart surgery. It is understood the couple were given the holiday as a present from a family member to help with his recuperation.
Tunisia’s president, Beji Caid Essebsi, denounced the attacks at the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel: “Once again, cowardly and traitorous hands have struck Tunisia, targeting its security and that of its children and visitors.” Tunisia’s president, Beji Caid Essebsi, denounced the attacks: “Once again, cowardly and traitorous hands have struck Tunisia, targeting its security and that of its children and visitors.”
Essebsi promised “painful but necessary” measures, adding: “No country is safe from terrorism, and we need a global strategy of all democratic countries.”Essebsi promised “painful but necessary” measures, adding: “No country is safe from terrorism, and we need a global strategy of all democratic countries.”
The slaughter took place on the beach between the Soviva and Imperial Marhaba hotels in the town of Sousse – a popular destination for holidaymakers from the UK and Ireland. The slaughter took place on the beach between the Soviva and Imperial Marhaba hotels in the town of Sousse, a popular destination for tourists from the UK and Ireland.
It was one of three deadly outbursts of violence on Friday, from Europe to North Africa and the Middle East, and followed a call to violence by Isis extremists. It was one of three deadly attacks on Friday, from Europe to North Africa and the Middle East, and followed a call to violence by Isis extremists.
A suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Kuwait killed 27 worshippers in an attack that was later claimed by Isis. It was the first such attack in the mostly quiet and relatively secure Gulf Arab nation in more than two decades. A suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Kuwait killed 27 worshippers and wounded a further 220 in an attack that was later claimed by Isis. Several people were arrested on Saturday. It was the first such attack in the mostly quiet and relatively secure Gulf Arab nation in more than two decades.
Related: Tunisia attack: British man has surgery after shielding fiancee from gunmanRelated: Tunisia attack: British man has surgery after shielding fiancee from gunman
In France, a man was detained near Lyon after the severed head of his former employer was hung from the gates of a gas factory which he seemingly tried to blow up by ramming it with a car. Two people were injured. Police said they also found a flag with Islamist inscriptions. In France, a man was detained near Lyon after the severed head of his former employer was found hung from the gates of a gas factory which he seemingly tried to blow up by ramming it with a car. Two people were injured in the attack. Police said they also found a flag with Islamist inscriptions.
The suspect, Yassine Salhi, was seized by an alert firefighter, authorities said, and French president Francois Hollande said the attacker’s intention had been to cause an explosion. Officials said the suspect had been known to intelligence services. A security alert for the south-east region was raised to its highest level for the next three days, and the US embassy in Paris warned American citizens to be vigilant. The suspect, Yassine Salhi, who was known to intelligence services, was seized by an alert firefighter, authorities said. President François Hollande said the attacker’s intention had been to cause an explosion.
It remains unclear if the attacks are linked but they came days after Isis militants urged their followers “to make Ramadan a month of calamities for the nonbelievers”. In all, the assailants killed at least 65 people. A security alert for south-east France was raised to its highest level for the next three days, and the US embassy in Paris warned its citizens to be vigilant.
In an audio recording released Tuesday, Isis called on its supporters to increase attacks during Ramadan and “be keen on waging invasion in this eminent month and commit martyrdom.” It remains unclear if the attacks are linked but they came days after Isis militants urged their followers “to make Ramadan a month of calamities for the non-believers”. In all, the assailants killed at least 65 people.
The attack in Tunisia was the country’s worst ever and follows a massacre on March 18 at the national Bardo museum in Tunis that killed 22 people, again mostly tourists, and has called into question the newly elected government’s ability to protect the country. In an audio recording released on Tuesday, Isis called on its supporters to increase attacks during Ramadan and “be keen on waging invasion in this eminent month and commit martyrdom”.
Rafik Chelli, the secretary of state of the Interior Ministry, told Associated Press that the attack was carried out by a young student not previously known to authorities. At least 36 people were reported wounded in the shooting spree, which ended when the gunman was shot dead by police. The attack in Tunisia was the country’s worst ever and followsa massacre on 18 March at the national Bardo museum in Tunis that killed 22 people, again mostly tourists, and has called into question the newly elected government’s ability to protect the country.
Rafik Chelli, the interior minister, told Associated Press the attack was carried out by a young student not previously known to authorities. At least 36 people were reportedly wounded in the shooting spree, which ended when the gunman was shot dead by police.
Related: Police foil Islamic State attack on UK Armed Forces Day paradeRelated: Police foil Islamic State attack on UK Armed Forces Day parade
Following the latest attacks, British authorities tightened security at major events, including an Armed Forces Day parade which was reportedly set to be targeted by a suicide bomber. In the wake of the attacks, British authorities tightened security at major events, including an Armed Forces Day parade at which an Isis bombing “plot” was foiled.
The wave of attacks was condemned by the United Nations, the US and Israel among others. The attacks were condemned by the United Nations, the US and Israel, among others.
The White House said: “We stand with these nations as they respond to attacks on their soil today.” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren added it was “too soon to tell whether or not these various and far-flung attacks were coordinated centrally or whether they were coincidental”. The White House said, “We stand with these nations as they respond to attacks on their soil today”, while the Pentagon spokesman, Colonel Steve Warren, said it was “too soon to tell whether or not these various and far-flung attacks were coordinated centrally or whether they were coincidental”.
The carnage in Tunisia began on the beach, where tourists described hearing what sounded like fireworks and then running for their lives when they realised it was gunfire. Video of the aftermath showed medics using beach chairs as stretchers to carry away people in swimsuits. The carnage in Tunisia began on the beach, where tourists described hearing what sounded like fireworks and then ran for cover when they realised it was gunfire. Video of the aftermath showed medics using beach chairs as stretchers to carry away people in swimsuits.
Chelli said of the gunman: “He had a parasol in his hand. He went down to put it in the sand and then he took out his Kalashnikov and began shooting wildly” Chelli said of the gunman: “He had a parasol in his hand. He went down to put it in the sand and then he took out his Kalashnikov and began shooting wildly.”
He then entered the pool area of the Imperial Marhaba hotel before moving inside, killing people as he went.He then entered the pool area of the Imperial Marhaba hotel before moving inside, killing people as he went.
British tourist Gary Pine told AP he was on the beach with his wife around noon when heard the shooting. They shouted for their son to get out of the water, grabbed their bag and ran for the hotel. Their son told them he saw someone shot on the beach. The British tourist Gary Pine told AP he was on the beach with his wife around midday when heard the shooting. They shouted for their son to get out of the water, grabbed their bag and ran for the hotel. Their son told them he saw someone shot on the beach.
There was “sheer panic” at the hotel, Pine said. “There were a lot of concerned people, a few people in tears with panic and a few people – older guests – they’d turned their ankles or there was a few little minor injuries and nicks and scrapes.”There was “sheer panic” at the hotel, Pine said. “There were a lot of concerned people, a few people in tears with panic and a few people – older guests – they’d turned their ankles or there was a few little minor injuries and nicks and scrapes.”
Elizabeth O’Brien, an Irish tourist who was with her two sons, told Irish Radio she was on the beach when the shooting began.Elizabeth O’Brien, an Irish tourist who was with her two sons, told Irish Radio she was on the beach when the shooting began.
“I thought, ‘Oh my God. It sounds like gunfire,’ so I just ran to the sea, to my children and grabbed our things” before fleeing to their hotel room, she said.“I thought, ‘Oh my God. It sounds like gunfire,’ so I just ran to the sea, to my children and grabbed our things” before fleeing to their hotel room, she said.
The Health Ministry said the dead included Tunisians, British, Germans and Belgians, without giving a breakdown. The health ministry in Tunisia said the dead included Tunisians, British, Germans and Belgians, but did not provide numbers.
The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said at least five Britons were killed but expected to toll to rise because a high proportion of the dead were believed to be British.
Since overthrowing its secular dictator in 2011, Tunisia has been plagued by terrorist attacks, although only recently have they targeted the tourism sector, which makes up nearly 15% of GDP.Since overthrowing its secular dictator in 2011, Tunisia has been plagued by terrorist attacks, although only recently have they targeted the tourism sector, which makes up nearly 15% of GDP.
Simon Calder, a London-based travel commentator, said: “The Foreign Office will declare the summer effectively over for Tunisia, and it will destroy – besides the lives taken – the tens of thousands of livelihoods who depend on tourism for a living.” Nearly half a million Britons visited Tunisia in 2014.Simon Calder, a London-based travel commentator, said: “The Foreign Office will declare the summer effectively over for Tunisia, and it will destroy – besides the lives taken – the tens of thousands of livelihoods who depend on tourism for a living.” Nearly half a million Britons visited Tunisia in 2014.
Jonathan Hill, a professor of defence studies at King’s College in London, said the attacks were also a blow to Tunisia’s image as a stable, democratic nation emerging from its revolution in 2011. Jonathan Hill, a professor of defence studies at King’s College London, said the attacks were a blow to Tunisia’s image as a stable, democratic nation emerging from its revolution in 2011.
“The terrorists are attacking Tunisia’s reputation,” he said. “Not just as a safe and welcoming destination for western holidaymakers, but as the one real success story to emerge out of the Arab spring.” “The terrorists are attacking Tunisia’s reputation,” he said. “Not just as a safe and welcoming destination for western holidaymakers, but as the one real success story to emerge out of the Arab Spring.”
Interpol offered investigative help in the wake of Friday’s violence. Its secretary-general, Juergen Stock, said the attacks “show the truly global dimension to current terrorist threats”. Interpol offered investigative help in the wake of Friday’s violence. Its secretary general, Juergen Stock, said the attacks “show the truly global dimension to current terrorist threats”.
Associated Press contributed to this reportAssociated Press contributed to this report