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| Tunisia attack: Gunman 'was in Isis sleeper cell and had terror training in Libya', student says | Tunisia attack: Gunman 'was in Isis sleeper cell and had terror training in Libya', student says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The gunman who massacred 38 tourists at a Tunisian hotel had been part of an Isis “sleeper” cell for several years despite not being known to authorities, it has been claimed. | The gunman who massacred 38 tourists at a Tunisian hotel had been part of an Isis “sleeper” cell for several years despite not being known to authorities, it has been claimed. |
| Police admitted they had no idea that Seifeddine Rezgui, a 23-year-old network management student was a terrorist threat. | Police admitted they had no idea that Seifeddine Rezgui, a 23-year-old network management student was a terrorist threat. |
| But a man who knew him at l’Institut Superior des Sciences Appliquees et de Technologie (Issat), in Kairouan, claimed Rezgui was part of a five-man cell and had been a jihadist for at least four years. | But a man who knew him at l’Institut Superior des Sciences Appliquees et de Technologie (Issat), in Kairouan, claimed Rezgui was part of a five-man cell and had been a jihadist for at least four years. |
| Wassim Bel-a-Del told Sky News that he was an Isis “sleeper” agent and that the group co-ordinated his attack on Friday. | Wassim Bel-a-Del told Sky News that he was an Isis “sleeper” agent and that the group co-ordinated his attack on Friday. |
| “I know the group he is working with; it is a group of terrorists,” he said. | “I know the group he is working with; it is a group of terrorists,” he said. |
| “There are some guys who go to Syria and come back and go on to study in the same university, and there are others who go and die in Syria.” | “There are some guys who go to Syria and come back and go on to study in the same university, and there are others who go and die in Syria.” |
| Mr Bel-a-Del said Rezgui was part of al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Jahbat al-Nusra in 2011 but switched allegiance as Isis’ power grew because he “loved everything they stood for”. | Mr Bel-a-Del said Rezgui was part of al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Jahbat al-Nusra in 2011 but switched allegiance as Isis’ power grew because he “loved everything they stood for”. |
| He added that the student trained in Libya with a terrorist group called Ansar al-Sharia, which has partly pledged allegiance to Isis and also has links to al-Qaeda, and believes Rezgui was taught to “disguise” his radicalisation. | He added that the student trained in Libya with a terrorist group called Ansar al-Sharia, which has partly pledged allegiance to Isis and also has links to al-Qaeda, and believes Rezgui was taught to “disguise” his radicalisation. |
| The gunman was linked to Saifallah Ben Hassine, an Ansar al-Sharia leader who was based in London for at least three years in the 1990s and became a disciple of deported cleric Abu Qatada, the Daily Mail reported. | |
| Police in Tunisia are questioning seven of his suspected associates who were arrested in three different cities. | Police in Tunisia are questioning seven of his suspected associates who were arrested in three different cities. |
| Three of those detained were young men who had shared a house with Rezgui in the city of Kairouan. | Three of those detained were young men who had shared a house with Rezgui in the city of Kairouan. |
| Despite conflicting witness claims of a second gunman who they believed also shot tourists at the Imperial Marhaba hotel, Tunisian authorities have insisted Rezgui acted alone during the attack, although accomplices may have provided him with weapons and “logistical support”. | Despite conflicting witness claims of a second gunman who they believed also shot tourists at the Imperial Marhaba hotel, Tunisian authorities have insisted Rezgui acted alone during the attack, although accomplices may have provided him with weapons and “logistical support”. |
| Around 17 British and Irish victims of the attack have so far been named and the death toll for the UK could rise to 30, making it the deadliest terror attack on the country’s citizens since the 7 July bombings a decade ago. A Tunisian police officer guards a beach in front of the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse on Sunday | Around 17 British and Irish victims of the attack have so far been named and the death toll for the UK could rise to 30, making it the deadliest terror attack on the country’s citizens since the 7 July bombings a decade ago. A Tunisian police officer guards a beach in front of the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse on Sunday |
| Tunisian investigators are looking into how and where Rezgui prepared for the massacre and previously said the gunmen who killed 20 foreigners in an attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis three months ago had been trained in Libya. | Tunisian investigators are looking into how and where Rezgui prepared for the massacre and previously said the gunmen who killed 20 foreigners in an attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis three months ago had been trained in Libya. |
| Kim Sengupta, The Independent’s defence correspondent, said Rezgui had the opportunity to travel to the neighbouring country earlier this year during the spring break from his studies. | Kim Sengupta, The Independent’s defence correspondent, said Rezgui had the opportunity to travel to the neighbouring country earlier this year during the spring break from his studies. |
| “There was no Libyan entry stamp in his passport but that doesn't mean anything,” he added. | “There was no Libyan entry stamp in his passport but that doesn't mean anything,” he added. |
| “The fact he was part of a cell seems quite logical…it’s quite clear he didn't do it by himself.” | “The fact he was part of a cell seems quite logical…it’s quite clear he didn't do it by himself.” |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |