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UK tourists fly home as Tunisia criticises travel advice Tunisia and Britain in diplomatic row as UK tourists fly home
(about 3 hours later)
British tourists are being flown back from Tunisia despite the country’s ambassador telling the UK government it is playing into the hands of terrorists by tightening travel advice for the North African country. Britain and Tunisia are becoming embroiled in a diplomatic row after the UK Foreign Office tightened its travel advice for the north African country and sparked a mass exodus of British holidaymakers.
The diplomatic row between the UK and Tunisia was sparked by the Foreign Office’s advice to British tourists on Thursday to leave immediately, with a warning against all but essential travel to the country following intelligence that a terrorist attack was “highly likely”. Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, reportedly told a late-night session of parliament that the revised guidance would have repercussions for Britain although he did not specify further.
Related: Tunisia massacre: funeral for first victims to take place Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the decision was “what the terrorists want” as holiday firms laid on extra flights to pull their customers out of the country.
The move came a fortnight after 30 Britons were among 38 tourists shot dead by Seifeddine Rezgui on the beach in Sousse. The terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.The move came a fortnight after 30 Britons were among 38 tourists shot dead by Seifeddine Rezgui on the beach in Sousse. The terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, said he would telephone David Cameron on Friday to respond to the change in travel advice, while Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the decision was “what the terrorists want”. “We will ring the British prime minister to tell him we have done everything we can to protect all British interests and those of other countries – that’s our duty,” Essid told parliament. “Britain is free to take whatever decision it likes – it’s a sovereign country – but we too are a sovereign country and we have a position to take.”
The new intelligence that prompted the Foreign Office to alter its advice with a warning against all but essential travel to Tunisia was received less than 24 hours before the action was taken, it has emerged.
But a Downing Street source stressed on Friday that the new information was only one of three factors influencing the change, with fears that suspects linked to the Sousse attack are still at large and worries about the quality of Tunisian security also influencing the decision.
Related: Tunisia massacre: funeral for first victims to take place
“By damaging the tourism, by having foreigners leaving the country, they damage the whole sector and put so many people out of work and on the streets,” Ammar told BBC Newsnight. “Hotels have to close and this is an important industry. One of the sources of terrorism is lack of hope. It is not the only motor of it but it is one of the very important origins.”“By damaging the tourism, by having foreigners leaving the country, they damage the whole sector and put so many people out of work and on the streets,” Ammar told BBC Newsnight. “Hotels have to close and this is an important industry. One of the sources of terrorism is lack of hope. It is not the only motor of it but it is one of the very important origins.”
Extra flights to the UK have been laid on to evacuate up to 3,000 people on package holidays and 300 independent travellers believed to be in Tunisia.Extra flights to the UK have been laid on to evacuate up to 3,000 people on package holidays and 300 independent travellers believed to be in Tunisia.
After the government changed its travel advice, Thomson and First Choice immediately cancelled all flights to Tunisia for the summer season.After the government changed its travel advice, Thomson and First Choice immediately cancelled all flights to Tunisia for the summer season.
They said that “as a precautionary measure we have taken the decision to repatriate all British Thomson and First Choice staff currently working in Tunisia within the next 24 hours”. They said: “As a precautionary measure we have taken the decision to repatriate all British Thomson and First Choice staff currently working in Tunisia within the next 24 hours.”
Thomas Cook, which cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up to 31 October, said it was putting on an extra flight on Friday to bring its customers back to Manchester.Thomas Cook, which cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up to 31 October, said it was putting on an extra flight on Friday to bring its customers back to Manchester.
Monarch Airlines said it was arranging to repatriate all customers in resorts “back to the UK as soon as possible”. Flights had been organised to take them out of Tunisia by the weekend. The airline was cancelling all flights to Enfidha, in Tunisia, for the rest of the summer with “immediate effect”.Monarch Airlines said it was arranging to repatriate all customers in resorts “back to the UK as soon as possible”. Flights had been organised to take them out of Tunisia by the weekend. The airline was cancelling all flights to Enfidha, in Tunisia, for the rest of the summer with “immediate effect”.
Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victimsRelated: Tunisia beach attack: the victims
The Association of British Travel Agents said any holidaymakers in Tunisia should contact their travel company to confirm arrangements for returning home.The Association of British Travel Agents said any holidaymakers in Tunisia should contact their travel company to confirm arrangements for returning home.
The Sousse massacre came just months after 22 people, mostly tourists, were killed at the National Bardo Museum outside Tunis in March. The Sousse massacre came just months after 22 people, mostly tourists, were killed at the Bardo National Museum outside Tunis in March.
Tunisia has introduced several security measures, including arming tourist police, since the Sousse attack. But the Foreign Office said it did not believe they provided adequate protection and advised against all but essential travel.Tunisia has introduced several security measures, including arming tourist police, since the Sousse attack. But the Foreign Office said it did not believe they provided adequate protection and advised against all but essential travel.
The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said: “Since the attack in Sousse the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, leading us to the view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.”The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said: “Since the attack in Sousse the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, leading us to the view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.”