| Voice of America | - |
Tunisia's
prime minister says 19 people, including tourists, were killed
Wednesday when gunmen targeted visitors to the country's Bardo Museum.
News / Middle East
Tunisia Museum Standoff Ends; Death Toll Climbs to 21
Last updated on: March 18, 2015 10:59 AM
Tunisia's prime minister says 19 people, including tourists, were
killed Wednesday when gunmen targeted visitors to the country's Bardo
Museum.
Two of the gunmen were also killed when security forces moved in to end the standoff.
Among the dead are 17 tourists from Poland, Italy, Germany and Spain. Two members of the security forces were also killed during the operation, Prime Minster Habib Essid said during a press conference.
At least 24 others were injured in the attack near parliament.
It remains unclear who the gunmen were.
Tunisian television showed images of older tourists and children fleeing the scene under the cover of armed security forces.
Member of Parliament Sayida Ounissi posted on Twitter the parliament building was under evacuation. "We are not afraid," she wrote.
Ounissi said the minister of justice, judges, and several army officials were inside the parliament building during a session on the country's anti-terrorism law.
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was scheduled to address the country about the attacks later in the day.
The museum is a leading tourist attraction that chronicles Tunisia's history and houses one of the world's largest collections of Roman mosaics.
Tunisia has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists in recent years, including some linked to the Islamic State group.
Tunisia recently completed a rocky road to democracy after overthrowing its authoritarian president in 2011. It has been more stable than other countries in the region, but it has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists in recent years, including some linked to IS. It also has extremists linked to al-Qaida's North Africa arm who occasionally target Tunisian security forces.
A disproportionately large number of Tunisia recruits have joined IS fighters in Syria and Iraq.
Some material for this report came from AP.
end quote from:
Two of the gunmen were also killed when security forces moved in to end the standoff.
Among the dead are 17 tourists from Poland, Italy, Germany and Spain. Two members of the security forces were also killed during the operation, Prime Minster Habib Essid said during a press conference.
At least 24 others were injured in the attack near parliament.
It remains unclear who the gunmen were.
Tunisian television showed images of older tourists and children fleeing the scene under the cover of armed security forces.
Member of Parliament Sayida Ounissi posted on Twitter the parliament building was under evacuation. "We are not afraid," she wrote.
Ounissi said the minister of justice, judges, and several army officials were inside the parliament building during a session on the country's anti-terrorism law.
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was scheduled to address the country about the attacks later in the day.
The museum is a leading tourist attraction that chronicles Tunisia's history and houses one of the world's largest collections of Roman mosaics.
Tunisia has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists in recent years, including some linked to the Islamic State group.
Tunisia recently completed a rocky road to democracy after overthrowing its authoritarian president in 2011. It has been more stable than other countries in the region, but it has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists in recent years, including some linked to IS. It also has extremists linked to al-Qaida's North Africa arm who occasionally target Tunisian security forces.
A disproportionately large number of Tunisia recruits have joined IS fighters in Syria and Iraq.
Some material for this report came from AP.
end quote from:
No comments:
Post a Comment