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Tunisia attack: arrests announced as UK sends plane to repatriate victims Tunisia attack: arrests announced as UK sends plane to repatriate victims
(35 minutes later)
The government is sending an RAF plane to help bring back all UK citizens injured in Friday’s terror attack on a Tunisian beach, as authorities announced the first arrests since the massacre.The government is sending an RAF plane to help bring back all UK citizens injured in Friday’s terror attack on a Tunisian beach, as authorities announced the first arrests since the massacre.
Downing Street said on Monday that the death toll was likely to rise to around 30, and that an RAF C17 was being sent with medevac teams experienced at repatriating injured service personnel.Downing Street said on Monday that the death toll was likely to rise to around 30, and that an RAF C17 was being sent with medevac teams experienced at repatriating injured service personnel.
Tunisian authorities said they had arrested a group of suspects linked to the attacker, 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui, who killed 38 people on the beach in Sousse on Friday.Tunisian authorities said they had arrested a group of suspects linked to the attacker, 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui, who killed 38 people on the beach in Sousse on Friday.
Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victimsRelated: Tunisia beach attack: the victims
Downing Street said Tunisian investigators believed that the gunman had operated as part of a group who might have helped by dropping him off close to the hotel. However, officials stressed that no assumptions were being made or definitive lead revealed.Downing Street said Tunisian investigators believed that the gunman had operated as part of a group who might have helped by dropping him off close to the hotel. However, officials stressed that no assumptions were being made or definitive lead revealed.
The home secretary, Theresa May, visited the scene of the massacre at the beach in Sousse, where she laid flowers and observed a period of silence.The home secretary, Theresa May, visited the scene of the massacre at the beach in Sousse, where she laid flowers and observed a period of silence.
Calling it a “despicable act of cruelty”, May said at least 18 Britons had died but confirmed the number will rise. She said Tunisia was a “symbol of what is possible”, and that a meeting with members of the country’s interior ministry had shown determination to fight the “perverted ideology” that led to the attack. “The terrorists will not win, we are resolved in that,” she said. Calling it a “despicable act of cruelty”, May said at least 18 Britons had died, and that number would rise. She said Tunisia was a “symbol of what is possible”, and a meeting with members of the country’s interior ministry had shown determination to fight the “perverted ideology” that led to the attack. “The terrorists will not win, we are resolved in that,” she said.
“What happened here last Friday was a despicable act of cruelty. How could a place of such beauty, of relaxation and happiness, be turned into such a scene of brutality and destruction,” she said at a press conference. “What happened here last Friday was a despicable act of cruelty. How could a place of such beauty, of relaxation and happiness, be turned into such a scene of brutality and destruction,” May said at a press conference.
May said she had heard “horror stories” of those caught up in the attack and accounts of “great bravery”, including that of Mathew James, who was hit in the hip, chest and pelvis as he shielded wife-to-be Saera Wilson from gunfire. May said: “The young man who shielded his fiancee from the bullets. The staff at the hotel who protected their guests. I would like to thank the Tunisian authorities and Tunisian government and the staff here at the hotel for all they have done to support the victims of this despicable act.” She said she had heard “horror stories” of those caught up in the attack and accounts of “great bravery”, including that of Mathew James, who was hit in the hip, chest and pelvis as he shielded wife-to-be Saera Wilson from gunfire. May said: “The young man who shielded his fiancee from the bullets. The staff at the hotel who protected their guests. I would like to thank the Tunisian authorities and Tunisian government and the staff here at the hotel for all they have done to support the victims of this despicable act.”
At the same press conference, the Tunisian interior minister Najem Gharsalli announced the arrests but did not give further details. He said officials were also still verifying whether the attacker had been trained in neighbouring Libya in jihadi camps. At the same press conference, the Tunisian interior minister Najem Gharsalli announced the arrests but did not give further details. He said officials were still trying to verify whether the attacker had been trained in neighbouring Libya in jihadi camps.
Related: Tunisia attack: David Cameron pledges 'full spectrum' response to massacreRelated: Tunisia attack: David Cameron pledges 'full spectrum' response to massacre
Earlier, David Cameron had pledged a “full spectrum” response to the massacre. “We are a target,” the prime minister said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “Frankly, we cannot hide from this thinking if you step back you become less of a target. They are attacking our way of life and what we stand for, and so we have to stand united with those that share our values.” Earlier, David Cameron pledged a “full spectrum” response to the massacre. “We are a target,” the prime minister said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “Frankly, we cannot hide from this thinking if you step back you become less of a target. They are attacking our way of life and what we stand for, and so we have to stand united with those that share our values.”
Cameron’s spokeswoman said that delays in identifying the dead were due in part to the fact that the holidaymakers may not have been carrying identification at the time of the attack. She said the home secretary would emphasise to the Tunisian authorities the need for swift identification of the victims, but stressed that it was vital to ensure all were correctly identified.Cameron’s spokeswoman said that delays in identifying the dead were due in part to the fact that the holidaymakers may not have been carrying identification at the time of the attack. She said the home secretary would emphasise to the Tunisian authorities the need for swift identification of the victims, but stressed that it was vital to ensure all were correctly identified.
In two cases where authorities had feared the worst, individuals thought to have possibly been victims of the gunman had on Monday morning been tracked down alive and well in the UK, she said.In two cases where authorities had feared the worst, individuals thought to have possibly been victims of the gunman had on Monday morning been tracked down alive and well in the UK, she said.
Sixteen Metropolitan police detectives, forensic science specialists and family liaison officers have arrived in the country and more will join them to assist the investigation.Sixteen Metropolitan police detectives, forensic science specialists and family liaison officers have arrived in the country and more will join them to assist the investigation.
Tunisian investigators said they were seeking one or more accomplices to Rezgui, who was shot dead by police after his assault at the Imperial Marhaba hotel.Tunisian investigators said they were seeking one or more accomplices to Rezgui, who was shot dead by police after his assault at the Imperial Marhaba hotel.
The attack in Tunisia represents the biggest loss of British life to terrorism since the 2005 London bombings, in which 56 people – including the attackers – were killed.The attack in Tunisia represents the biggest loss of British life to terrorism since the 2005 London bombings, in which 56 people – including the attackers – were killed.
The remaining six British holidaymakers who were injured in the attack will be back in Britain in the next 24 hours as British authorities press the Tunisians to speed up the identification of the remaining dozen or so UK citizens believed to have been killed.The remaining six British holidaymakers who were injured in the attack will be back in Britain in the next 24 hours as British authorities press the Tunisians to speed up the identification of the remaining dozen or so UK citizens believed to have been killed.
Reuters and the Press Association contributed to this reportReuters and the Press Association contributed to this report