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Tunisia beach attack: witnesses say more than one gunman involved Tunisia beach attack: witnesses say more than one gunman involved
(about 3 hours later)
More than one gunman was involved in the terrorist massacre in Tunisia, witnesses have claimed, as four Britons seriously injured in the shooting were flown home.More than one gunman was involved in the terrorist massacre in Tunisia, witnesses have claimed, as four Britons seriously injured in the shooting were flown home.
The accounts cast doubt on the sketchy version of Friday’s killings in Sousse given by the Tunisian authorities. They have so far said the attack at Imperial Marhaba beach hotel was carried out by a single terrorist, Seiffeddine Rezgui, who killed 38 people in a gun and grenade assault before being shot dead.The accounts cast doubt on the sketchy version of Friday’s killings in Sousse given by the Tunisian authorities. They have so far said the attack at Imperial Marhaba beach hotel was carried out by a single terrorist, Seiffeddine Rezgui, who killed 38 people in a gun and grenade assault before being shot dead.
British tourists who survived Friday’s attack on a beach in Sousse said they saw a second man carrying a gun.British tourists who survived Friday’s attack on a beach in Sousse said they saw a second man carrying a gun.
Steve Johnson, a retired police officer, was on holiday with his wife, Valerie, and fellow ex-officer Michael Perry and Perry’s wife, Angela.
Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victimsRelated: Tunisia beach attack: the victims
Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said: “We were really close and I could hear the constant noise of an automatic weapon. I saw a man in red shorts machine-gunning someone on a sun lounger. He was 20 yards away from us.”
Johnson added: “We ran across wasteland and into a spa and hid in the basement while gunshots and grenades and everything was going off around us. After about 20 minutes we crept up to the third floor and we could see him shooting people around the pool. It was 40 minutes later when a Tunisian policeman came to get us and he took us through a corridor from the spa to the hotel.
“On the floor was a body, covered mainly with a sheet, but I could see he was the right build and colouring of the shooter I had seen. And he had red shorts on ... Mick had seen both gunmen and we are sure there were two of them.”
Perry also told the paper he had seen a bare-chested gunman running with a weapon.
Other witnesses have described a man in red shorts, possibly a member of the coastguard, firing a handgun at Rezgui: “He was trying to fire it at the guy, but it was like he didn’t know how to get the safety catch off or something,” said Aymen Khalifa Belhaj.
Witnesses have also described a gunman with long black hair and a beard shooting at them.
Richard Slater, who survived the attack after sheltering in a cupboard in a beach shop, said he was told that one of the attackers came in from the sea on a jet ski.Richard Slater, who survived the attack after sheltering in a cupboard in a beach shop, said he was told that one of the attackers came in from the sea on a jet ski.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said he couldn’t be certain about the number of gunmen but was told by local shopkeepers and staff in his hotel that two attackers were shot, one was arrested and another was still at large.Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said he couldn’t be certain about the number of gunmen but was told by local shopkeepers and staff in his hotel that two attackers were shot, one was arrested and another was still at large.
Steve Johnson, a retired police officer, told the Daily Mirror he saw “a man in red shorts machine-gunning someone on a sun lounger. He was 20 yards away from us.”
Other witnesses have described a man in red shorts, possibly a member of the coastguard, firing a handgun at Rezgui: “He was trying to fire it at the guy, but it was like he didn’t know how to get the safety catch off or something,” said Aymen Khalifa Belhaj.
Witnesses have also described a gunman with long black hair and a beard shooting at them.
The Tunisian authorities have given little information about the attack but have so far insisted that Rezgui acted alone after being helped by accomplices who were not at the scene. Seven men allegedly linked to Rezgui have been arrested.The Tunisian authorities have given little information about the attack but have so far insisted that Rezgui acted alone after being helped by accomplices who were not at the scene. Seven men allegedly linked to Rezgui have been arrested.
Overnight an RAF transport plane carrying four Britons seriously injured in the shooting landed at Brize Norton, after a brief stop at Birmingham airport.Overnight an RAF transport plane carrying four Britons seriously injured in the shooting landed at Brize Norton, after a brief stop at Birmingham airport.
Related: Tunisian hotel workers recall terror: 'We opened our breasts against the bullets'Related: Tunisian hotel workers recall terror: 'We opened our breasts against the bullets'
The Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham said it was treating one of the patients injured in the attack.The Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham said it was treating one of the patients injured in the attack.
A spokesman said: “The patient arrived at 12.45am today following transfer from Birmingham International airport and is being assessed by the hospital’s multi-disciplinary team to determine their ongoing care pathway.”A spokesman said: “The patient arrived at 12.45am today following transfer from Birmingham International airport and is being assessed by the hospital’s multi-disciplinary team to determine their ongoing care pathway.”
“The team is being coordinated by Prof Sir Keith Porter, the trust’s clinical lead for trauma.”“The team is being coordinated by Prof Sir Keith Porter, the trust’s clinical lead for trauma.”
On Monday new video emerged showing the gunman rampaging through the hotel for at least 20 minutes without any response from Tunisian security forces.On Monday new video emerged showing the gunman rampaging through the hotel for at least 20 minutes without any response from Tunisian security forces.
Fifty UK officials have been despatched to Tunisia to help victims and their families. David Cameron told the House of Commons they were engaged in “quite detailed work to make sure hotels are safe” and improving Tunisia’s intelligence-led response to future threats.Fifty UK officials have been despatched to Tunisia to help victims and their families. David Cameron told the House of Commons they were engaged in “quite detailed work to make sure hotels are safe” and improving Tunisia’s intelligence-led response to future threats.
Tunisia’s government has failed to provide a detailed account or timeline of what happened in the attack. But its tourism minister, Salma Loumi, has claimed the incident will cost $515m (£328m) in lost revenue from tourists.Tunisia’s government has failed to provide a detailed account or timeline of what happened in the attack. But its tourism minister, Salma Loumi, has claimed the incident will cost $515m (£328m) in lost revenue from tourists.
“The attack had a great impact on the economy; the losses will be large,” Loumi told reporters.“The attack had a great impact on the economy; the losses will be large,” Loumi told reporters.
Tunisia earned $1.95bn (£1.24bn) in revenues from tourism last year, which represents 7% of its GDP.Tunisia earned $1.95bn (£1.24bn) in revenues from tourism last year, which represents 7% of its GDP.
About half of the 20,000 British tourists in Tunisia have returned home since the attacks, the Association of British Travel Agents said.About half of the 20,000 British tourists in Tunisia have returned home since the attacks, the Association of British Travel Agents said.