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Tourists fly out of Tunisia amid row over Foreign Office advice for Britons to leave Tourists fly out of Tunisia amid row over Foreign Office advice for Britons to leave
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of British holidaymakers were packing up to leave Tunisia amid criticism of Downing Street from Tunisia’s prime minister, who rejected claims that tourists were at risk and said he was doing everything in his power to keep them safe. Hundreds of British holidaymakers have been leaving Tunisia amid criticism of Downing Street from Tunisia’s prime minister, who rejected claims that tourists were at risk and said he was doing everything in his power to keep them safe.
Habib Essid said his government would help to evacuate approximately 3,000 Britons, most of whom were expected to fly home by the weekend. But he told Tunisia’s parliament he was dismayed by the Foreign Office’s advice – issued late on Thursday – that all tourists should leave the north African country immediately. There would be repercussions, he warned. Habib Essid said his government would help to evacuate approximately 3,000 Britons, most of whom were expected to fly home by the weekend. But he told Tunisia’s parliament he was dismayed by the advice from the Foreign Office (FCO) – issued late on Thursday – that all tourists should leave the north African country immediately. There would be repercussions, he warned.
Tunisia’s foreign minister, Taieb Baccouche, said Tunis did not blame London for its decision but would nonetheless seek to overturn it. “Little by little, we will try to convince them, perhaps, to go back on it,” he said.Tunisia’s foreign minister, Taieb Baccouche, said Tunis did not blame London for its decision but would nonetheless seek to overturn it. “Little by little, we will try to convince them, perhaps, to go back on it,” he said.
The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said another attack in Tunisia was “highly likely”, though he admitted he had no intelligence pinpointing a specific plot. His warning came two weeks after a young Tunisian Islamist, Seifeddine Rezgui, shot dead 38 people on a beach in Sousse, 30 of them Britons. Three Irish citizens also died.The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said another attack in Tunisia was “highly likely”, though he admitted he had no intelligence pinpointing a specific plot. His warning came two weeks after a young Tunisian Islamist, Seifeddine Rezgui, shot dead 38 people on a beach in Sousse, 30 of them Britons. Three Irish citizens also died.
On Friday, the Irish government adopted the same guidance as the FCO and urged its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Tunisia. This was as a result of increased security concerns, it said. Denmark issued similar advice to its citizens in Tunisia, but other European countries did not follow suit. Paris urged its tourists to be vigilant.On Friday, the Irish government adopted the same guidance as the FCO and urged its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Tunisia. This was as a result of increased security concerns, it said. Denmark issued similar advice to its citizens in Tunisia, but other European countries did not follow suit. Paris urged its tourists to be vigilant.
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The UK government’s decision followed a briefing on Wednesday by the National Security Secretariat. Officials told Hammond and David Cameron that more information had been gathered on Rezgui’s accomplices in the 26 June attack. They are still believed to be at large, possibly planning further atrocities. The UK government’s decision followed a briefing on Wednesday by the national security secretariat. Officials told Hammond and David Cameron that more information had been gathered on Rezgui’s accomplices in the 26 June attack. They are still believed to be at large, possibly planning further atrocities.
Islamic State (Isis) claims it was behind the Sousse attack, and there are indications that Rezgui may have had an Isis connection. But analysts say it is premature to declare categorically that this was an Isis operation, amid a fluid picture that may involve other radical groups. Islamic State (Isis) claims it was behind the Sousse attack and there are indications that Rezgui may have had an Isis connection. But analysts say it is premature to declare categorically that this was an Isis operation and it may involve other radical groups.
The Tunisian authorities have, in Downing Street’s view, so far not made a serious enough effort to strengthen security arrangements to protect tourists. With foreign visitors concentrated in relatively few areas, the UK government believes the solution is to increase the number of guards in tourist destinations, and do more to identify potential attackers. The Tunisian authorities have, in Downing Street’s view, not made a serious enough effort to strengthen security arrangements to protect tourists. With foreign visitors concentrated in relatively few areas, the UK government believes the solution is to increase the number of guards in tourist destinations and do more to identify potential attackers.
The Association of British Travel Agents said it hoped all Britons would be able to fly home by the end of Sunday.The Association of British Travel Agents said it hoped all Britons would be able to fly home by the end of Sunday.
Holidaymakers returning on an emergency flight from Tunisia to Stansted on Friday evening said they had felt safe in the resorts. Chris Lee, 53, from Northern Ireland, told the Guardian he had seen “wall-to-wall security all the way”. Holidaymakers returning on an emergency flight from Tunisia to Stansted on Friday evening said they had felt safe in the resorts. Chris Lee, 53, from Northern Ireland,said he had seen “wall-to-wall security all the way”.
“Tunisia was fantastic,” he said. “I really feel for the staff, they were in floods of tears when they heard we were being sent home. They’ll all be laid off in the hotel; the tourist trade is murdered. Even when we were there they were cutting down the buffet options, the entertainment.” “Tunisia was fantastic,” he said. “I really feel for the staff, they were in floods of tears when they heard we were being sent home. They’ll all be laid off in the hotel; the tourist trade is murdered. Even when we were there, they were cutting down the buffet options, the entertainment.”
Alex Neave-Vince and his girlfriend Amy Robinson, both from Ipswich, were on their first holiday together, and arrived just after the tragedy. Alex Neave-Vince and his girlfriend Amy Robinson, both from Ipswich, were on their first holiday together and arrived just after the tragedy.
“They have overreacted a little bit,” Robinson said of the FCO advice. “The same thing happened in Paris and no one stopped people flying out there. The same thing happened in Kuwait. Why are they eliminating Tunisia compared to all these other countries? England are on red alert now, same as Tunisia, but people are still flying to England.”“They have overreacted a little bit,” Robinson said of the FCO advice. “The same thing happened in Paris and no one stopped people flying out there. The same thing happened in Kuwait. Why are they eliminating Tunisia compared to all these other countries? England are on red alert now, same as Tunisia, but people are still flying to England.”
Both said they were frustrated with their treatment on the way home. “We were all bundled in a lounge together, we had to fly first to Manchester and then to here. No one from the airline told us what was going on, they pushed us to one side, we kept going up to ask but were told nothing,” said Robinson. Both said they were frustrated with their treatment on the way home. “We were all bundled in a lounge together, we had to fly first to Manchester and then to here. No one from the airline told us what was going on. They pushed us to one side. We kept going up to ask but were told nothing,” said Robinson.
The Tunisian government, meanwhile, has reacted angrily. It said that the UK was damaging the country’s economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism, and may end up inadvertently fuelling poverty and therefore terrorism. On Friday, not a single tourist could be seen at Tunisia’s most famous site, the ruins of ancient Carthage on the outskirts of the capital. The Tunisian government said the UK was damaging the country’s economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism, and may end up inadvertently fuelling poverty and therefore terrorism. On Friday, not a single tourist could be seen at Tunisia’s most famous site, the ruins of ancient Carthage on the outskirts of the capital.
Soldiers in green uniforms deployed to provide security lolled in the hot sun, talking to tour guides with nothing to do. “Friday is normally the day for the Anglo-Saxon tourists to come here. Normally it’s so crowded. We also have Japanese, Russians, French, but now nobody,” said Kalhoum Aaouni, an archaeology professor who has worked for 12 years as a summer-season guide.Soldiers in green uniforms deployed to provide security lolled in the hot sun, talking to tour guides with nothing to do. “Friday is normally the day for the Anglo-Saxon tourists to come here. Normally it’s so crowded. We also have Japanese, Russians, French, but now nobody,” said Kalhoum Aaouni, an archaeology professor who has worked for 12 years as a summer-season guide.
Related: Telling British tourists to flee Tunisia rewards terrorism | Simon JenkinsRelated: Telling British tourists to flee Tunisia rewards terrorism | Simon Jenkins
Oliver Miles, a former UK ambassador to Libya and Greece, also questioned the wisdom of Hammond’s announcement. Miles said he did not believe Cameron was “making up” the intelligence risk from terrorism but he found the government’s response puzzling. Oliver Miles, a former UK ambassador to Libya and Greece, questioned the wisdom of Hammond’s announcement. Miles said he did not believe Cameron was “making up” the intelligence risk from terrorism but he found the government’s response puzzling.
He said: “The threat from people who are acting in the name of Islamic State is different from what we are facing with al-Qaida. Al-Qaida was a kind of command-and-control system that tried to operate in different countries at different times. It has subsidiary organisations under its control.He said: “The threat from people who are acting in the name of Islamic State is different from what we are facing with al-Qaida. Al-Qaida was a kind of command-and-control system that tried to operate in different countries at different times. It has subsidiary organisations under its control.
“IS is not like that. What they are doing is simply hoisting a flag and asking people to join on a quasi-autonomous basis to each other.” “Islamic State is not like that. What they are doing is simply hoisting a flag and asking people to join on a quasi-autonomous basis to each other.”
Miles said the next attack was likely to come somewhere else – Morocco, Israel, the US or Russia. He described Hammond’s remarks that another attack in Tunisia was likely – despite no intelligence warning of one – as “pretty contradictory”.Miles said the next attack was likely to come somewhere else – Morocco, Israel, the US or Russia. He described Hammond’s remarks that another attack in Tunisia was likely – despite no intelligence warning of one – as “pretty contradictory”.
“If the people killed had been Dutch would he be advising all Brits to leave Tunisia?” he said, adding that the government may have succumbed to the irresistible political urge to be seen to “do something”.“If the people killed had been Dutch would he be advising all Brits to leave Tunisia?” he said, adding that the government may have succumbed to the irresistible political urge to be seen to “do something”.
Tunisia faces numerous challenges in its attempt to keep track of homegrown Islamist extremists. The biggest is its proximity to Libya, which is in the grip of a civil war. Since last year, Isis supporters have been reported to be providing basic firearms training at a camp near the Libyan coastal town of Sabratha.Tunisia faces numerous challenges in its attempt to keep track of homegrown Islamist extremists. The biggest is its proximity to Libya, which is in the grip of a civil war. Since last year, Isis supporters have been reported to be providing basic firearms training at a camp near the Libyan coastal town of Sabratha.
Related: Tunisia state of emergency imposed due to fears of further attacks, says presidentRelated: Tunisia state of emergency imposed due to fears of further attacks, says president
Investigators say that Rezgui and another gunman who in March attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis, killing 20 tourists and a policeman, received weapons training in Libya. On Monday night, a group of 33 people aged 16 to 35 slipped out of the southern town of Remada and were believed to be heading to Libya. They include two serving soldiers and an army deserter.Investigators say that Rezgui and another gunman who in March attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis, killing 20 tourists and a policeman, received weapons training in Libya. On Monday night, a group of 33 people aged 16 to 35 slipped out of the southern town of Remada and were believed to be heading to Libya. They include two serving soldiers and an army deserter.
The government in Tunisia insists it is taking action to deal with the problem. It says it has deployed about 2,000 armed police to beach resorts, and since March has arrested 1,000 terrorist suspects. It is also building a 115-mile-long (185km) defensive wall on the southern border with Libya. This will consist of a trench and a sand embankment in a semi-desert zone crisscrossed with smugglers’ tracks. The government in Tunisia insisted it was taking action to deal with the problem. It said it had deployed about 2,000 armed police to beach resorts and had arrested 1,000 terrorist suspects since March. It is building a 115-mile-long (185km) defensive wall on the southern border with Libya. This will consist of a trench and a sand embankment in a semi-desert zone crisscrossed with smugglers’ tracks.
British officials in Tunisia seem unimpressed by these counter-terrorism efforts. In the wake of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, the UK has taken an EU lead in advising the country’s new democratic interior ministry. The ministry previously played a key role in enforcing the authoritarian rule of the country’s ex-president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.British officials in Tunisia seem unimpressed by these counter-terrorism efforts. In the wake of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, the UK has taken an EU lead in advising the country’s new democratic interior ministry. The ministry previously played a key role in enforcing the authoritarian rule of the country’s ex-president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
David Hartwell, a Middle East analyst, said: “The revolution against Ben Ali was done to get rid of the security state. There’s a reluctance to go back to those days when you literally had a policeman on every corner.” David Hartwell, a Middle East analyst, said: “The revolution against Ben Ali was done to get rid of the security state. There’s a reluctance to go back to those days when you literally had a policeman on every corner.
He added: “There is a tightrope the government is walking. The security state was focused on crushing the political opposition. There is a wariness about returning going back to that. They have not yet decided where the dividing line is.” There is a tightrope the government is walking. The security state was focused on crushing the political opposition. There is a wariness about returning going back to that. They have not yet decided where the dividing line is.”