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Tui hid terrorism advice from customers, Sousse attacks hearing told Tui hid terrorism advice from customers, Sousse attacks hearing told
(35 minutes later)
Tui, owner of Thomson Holidays, and the travel industry put customers at risk by “practically hiding” Foreign Office terrorism warnings on brochures and booking forms, a pre-inquest hearing on the Sousse attacks in Tunisia has heard.Tui, owner of Thomson Holidays, and the travel industry put customers at risk by “practically hiding” Foreign Office terrorism warnings on brochures and booking forms, a pre-inquest hearing on the Sousse attacks in Tunisia has heard.
Lawyers representing the families of 16 British citizens killed in the atrocity in June last year alleged at the royal courts of justice that Tui did not pass on Foreign Office advice to customers before the attack warning of a “high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. Attacks could be indiscriminate including places visited by foreigners.” Lawyers representing the families of 16 British citizens killed in the atrocity in June last year alleged at the Royal Courts of Justice that Tui did not pass on Foreign Office advice to customers before the attack warning of a “high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. Attacks could be indiscriminate including places visited by foreigners.”
The personal injury law firm Irwin Mitchell alleged Tui this year was still encouraging customers to holiday in Sousse with up to 40% reductions despite the Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel. The personal injury law firm Irwin Mitchell alleged Tui was still encouraging customers to holiday in Sousse this year, with up to 40% reductions despite the Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel.
The 26 June gun attack by Seifeddine Rezgui at the Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel and the adjoining beach at the Port El Kantaoui resort left 38 people dead, including 30 Britons. Many more suffered gunshot wounds and other serious injuries. The gun attack on 26 June 2015 by Seifeddine Rezgui at the Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel and the adjoining beach at the Port El Kantaoui resort left 38 people dead, including 30 Britons. Many more suffered gunshot wounds and other serious injuries.
The attack came less than two years after a suicide bomb attack in Sousse and three months after a terrorist attack at the Bardo museum in Tunis that resulted in the death of 20 foreign tourists.The attack came less than two years after a suicide bomb attack in Sousse and three months after a terrorist attack at the Bardo museum in Tunis that resulted in the death of 20 foreign tourists.
Andrew Ritchie QC, representing the families – most of whom were in court – alleged Tui adopted a “three-limbed approach” that included: “practically hiding and keeping out of the limelight” Foreign Office warnings about terrorism in Tunisia; selling customers travel insurance that excluded cancellation cover caused by terrorism risks; and, before the Sousse attacks, discouraging cancellation by penalising customers up to the full cost of their booked holidays if they chose to cancel as a result of learning of terrorist activities or risks.Andrew Ritchie QC, representing the families – most of whom were in court – alleged Tui adopted a “three-limbed approach” that included: “practically hiding and keeping out of the limelight” Foreign Office warnings about terrorism in Tunisia; selling customers travel insurance that excluded cancellation cover caused by terrorism risks; and, before the Sousse attacks, discouraging cancellation by penalising customers up to the full cost of their booked holidays if they chose to cancel as a result of learning of terrorist activities or risks.
Howard Stevens QC, on behalf of Tui, told the hearing that the allegations fell into a “contentious area” and are disputed. Howard Stevens QC, on behalf of Tui, told the hearing that the allegations fell into a “contentious area” and were disputed.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, the coroner, refined the scope of the full inquest, scheduled for 26 January 2017. He said it would cover security arrangements at the beach and hotel immediately preceding the Bardo museum attack and any changes following that. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, the coroner, refined the scope of the full inquest, scheduled for 26 January 2017. He said it would cover security arrangements at the beach and hotel immediately before the Bardo museum attack and any changes following that assault.
Loraine-Smith said the inquest would also take in the preparations by the gunman, and potentially others, behind the hotel shootings, the emergency response by the authorities and the hotel, forensic evidence and the adequacy of advice from the Foreign Office and travel companies. Loraine-Smith said the inquest would also take in the preparations by the gunman and potentially others behind the hotel shootings, the emergency response by the authorities and the hotel, forensic evidence and the adequacy of advice from the Foreign Office and travel companies.
Suzanne Richards, from Wednesbury in the West Midlands, who lost three relatives in the Sousse attack last year, said: “We were left distraught and heartbroken following the tragic events in Tunisia and I think it is likely we will never fully come to terms with what happened. Suzanne Richards, from Wednesbury in the West Midlands, who lost her son, brother and father in the Sousse attack last year, said: “We were left distraught and heartbroken following the tragic events in Tunisia and I think it is likely we will never fully come to terms with what happened.
“We just hope the inquest process can shed some light on exactly what happened so that my family and all the grieving families can begin to understand how their loved ones died and whether more could have been done to protect them. Nothing can turn back the clock but it is important to us to find out if any lessons can be learned to try to prevent similar heartbreaking devastation in future.”“We just hope the inquest process can shed some light on exactly what happened so that my family and all the grieving families can begin to understand how their loved ones died and whether more could have been done to protect them. Nothing can turn back the clock but it is important to us to find out if any lessons can be learned to try to prevent similar heartbreaking devastation in future.”
The court heard how the Metropolitan police are building a 3D model of the attack site that would allow families to follow a reconstruction. The Met said it continues to receive material from Judge Lazhar Akremi, who is leading the investigation in Tunisia. The court heard how the Metropolitan police are building a 3D model of the attack site that would allow families to follow a reconstruction. The Met said it continued to receive material from Judge Lazhar Akremi, who is leading the investigation in Tunisia.
Lawyers advising the coroner said the Met holds copies of data from approximately 40 electronic devices, including computers and mobile phones, amounting to 4.6 terabytes of data. It would take five full-time officers and about six months to view the material and many years to translate it, so officers would have to take a “proportionate” approach, the court heard. Lawyers advising the coroner said the Met held copies of data from approximately 40 electronic devices, including computers and mobile phones, amounting to 4.6 terabytes of data. It would take five full-time officers and about six months to view the material and many years to translate it, so officers would have to take a “proportionate” approach, the court heard.
The hearing on Tuesday was the second pre-inquest review, with two more scheduled before the full inquest.The hearing on Tuesday was the second pre-inquest review, with two more scheduled before the full inquest.