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Sousse beach attack: Coroner condemns Tunisia police response Sousse beach attack: Coroner condemns Tunisia police response
(35 minutes later)
The police response to a terror attack at a Tunisian beach resort in which 30 Britons were killed was "at best shambolic and at worst cowardly", a coroner has concluded. The police response to a terror attack at a Tunisian beach resort in which 30 Britons died was "at best shambolic and at worst cowardly", a coroner has concluded.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith ruled all 30 were "unlawfully killed" when a gunman opened fire at a hotel in Sousse in June 2015, killing 38 in total. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith ruled they were "unlawfully killed" when a gunman opened fire at a hotel in Sousse in June 2015, claiming 38 lives in total.
He rejected a finding of neglect against the tour firms and the hotel.He rejected a finding of neglect against the tour firms and the hotel.
The police response could and should have been effective, he added.The police response could and should have been effective, he added.
There were emotional scenes in the packed courtroom of London's Royal Courts of Justice as the coroner described how each of the victims came to their death, in alphabetical order. Officers near the scene ran in the opposite direction to get more guns while the Islamist gunman sprayed bullets at sunbathers on the beach and threw grenades, the inquest heard.
Among the dead - aged between 19 and 80 - were three generations from one family - a young man, his uncle and his grandfather. He then stormed into the hotel to kill more victims.
It was only after an hour-long killing spree that Seifeddine Rezgui was shot dead by police.
What exactly happened on the day?What exactly happened on the day?
Tunisia attack: 'He sacrificed himself'Tunisia attack: 'He sacrificed himself'
One survivor's recurring nightmareOne survivor's recurring nightmare
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
There were emotional scenes in the packed courtroom of London's Royal Courts of Justice as the coroner described how each of the victims came to their death, in alphabetical order.
Among the dead - aged between 19 and 80 - were three generations from one family - a young man, his uncle and his grandfather.
Families had wanted the coroner to consider whether neglect by holiday firm TUI or the hotel owners was a factor in their relatives' deaths.Families had wanted the coroner to consider whether neglect by holiday firm TUI or the hotel owners was a factor in their relatives' deaths.
But he told them he could not because the law regarding neglect did not cover tourists on holiday.But he told them he could not because the law regarding neglect did not cover tourists on holiday.
It only applied in cases where someone had a duty of care towards someone because of their youth, age, an illness or incarceration - not tourists who voluntarily agreed to go on holiday abroad, he said.It only applied in cases where someone had a duty of care towards someone because of their youth, age, an illness or incarceration - not tourists who voluntarily agreed to go on holiday abroad, he said.
He added that he has not found a direct and causal link between the response of armed officers in the area and the deaths.He added that he has not found a direct and causal link between the response of armed officers in the area and the deaths.
He said there were a lot of "what ifs" around the case, and better hotel security may simply have meant more people died on the beach.He said there were a lot of "what ifs" around the case, and better hotel security may simply have meant more people died on the beach.
The only factor that might have made a difference was if the hotel guards had been armed, he added.The only factor that might have made a difference was if the hotel guards had been armed, he added.
"Having reviewed the legal advice on gun law in Tunisia, it's clear this was not a realistic option," he said."Having reviewed the legal advice on gun law in Tunisia, it's clear this was not a realistic option," he said.
"The simple but tragic truth in this case is that a gunman armed with a gun and grenades went to that hotel intending to kill as many tourists as he could.""The simple but tragic truth in this case is that a gunman armed with a gun and grenades went to that hotel intending to kill as many tourists as he could."
It is understood that families of 22 of the Britons killed plan to take travel company TUI to a civil court in a bid to get compensation for personal injury and deaths. Kylie Hutchison, a solicitor for 22 of the families, said it was crucial that the travel industry learned from what happened in Sousse, and added that the families were preparing to commence civil proceedings against TUI.
The company maintained it was "wholly erroneous" to claim it had been neglectful and there was insufficient evidence of any gross failure.The company maintained it was "wholly erroneous" to claim it had been neglectful and there was insufficient evidence of any gross failure.
In summing up at the end of a six-week hearing, the judge said holidaymakers had been "reassured" about safety before booking.In summing up at the end of a six-week hearing, the judge said holidaymakers had been "reassured" about safety before booking.
One man said his wife had raised the March 2015 attack at the Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis with a travel agent, who told her it had been a "one-off" and the place was "100% safe".One man said his wife had raised the March 2015 attack at the Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis with a travel agent, who told her it had been a "one-off" and the place was "100% safe".
A Thomson travel agent said she would not say somewhere was completely safe, the inquest heard.A Thomson travel agent said she would not say somewhere was completely safe, the inquest heard.
'Unforgivable' After the ruling, 42-year-old Scott Chalkley's family said: "What is perhaps the saddest is that Scott was taken when he had found true happiness with his partner Sue.
The attack at the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel was the deadliest on Britons since the 7 July 2005 London bombings. "We have been robbed of a future that held promise and laughter of a wonderful man so needlessly and heartlessly snatched from our lives."
The Islamist gunman, Seifeddine Rezgui, was shot dead by police after his hour-long killing spree. Lawyer Kieran Mitchell, representing the family, said it was unsurprising that the gunman selected the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel as it appeared to be the easiest target.
"Had security been properly assessed and had the local police executed their proper duty, perhaps this tragedy would never have happened," he said.
The attack was the deadliest on Britons since the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
Survivor Allen Pembroke told the BBC how he found people lying in pools of blood among sun loungers close to the water's edge.Survivor Allen Pembroke told the BBC how he found people lying in pools of blood among sun loungers close to the water's edge.
He gave first aid to British holidaymaker Cheryl Mellor, who was still alive after being shot in the leg and arm, but drifting in and out of consciousness.He gave first aid to British holidaymaker Cheryl Mellor, who was still alive after being shot in the leg and arm, but drifting in and out of consciousness.
He said he was alone on the beach for 20 minutes checking on the dead and injured, with no help from anyone else.He said he was alone on the beach for 20 minutes checking on the dead and injured, with no help from anyone else.
"I saw no military or medical staff and it's only in recent reports that I found out that the police waited, they fainted, they hid."I saw no military or medical staff and it's only in recent reports that I found out that the police waited, they fainted, they hid.
"That's unforgivable, they need to be accountable for that," he said."That's unforgivable, they need to be accountable for that," he said.
The Tunisian ambassador to the UK, Nabil Ammar, said his country had been unprepared for such an attack and it was unfair to blame police.The Tunisian ambassador to the UK, Nabil Ammar, said his country had been unprepared for such an attack and it was unfair to blame police.
"How can you imagine that police deliberately wanted people to die?" he asked BBC Radio 4's Today programme."How can you imagine that police deliberately wanted people to die?" he asked BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Since the attack, he said security in the country and in hotels had improved, and Tunisia was now considered as safe a destination as London.Since the attack, he said security in the country and in hotels had improved, and Tunisia was now considered as safe a destination as London.
Tunisia should, he added, be shown the same solidarity shown to other countries which have experienced similar attacks.Tunisia should, he added, be shown the same solidarity shown to other countries which have experienced similar attacks.
Andrew Ritchie, who is representing 20 victims' families, told the inquest they believed TUI's "utter complacency" amounted to neglect.Andrew Ritchie, who is representing 20 victims' families, told the inquest they believed TUI's "utter complacency" amounted to neglect.
He said the guards at the Riu Imperial Marhaba had not been an effective deterrent and the lack of CCTV had made it a target.He said the guards at the Riu Imperial Marhaba had not been an effective deterrent and the lack of CCTV had made it a target.
But Howard Stevens, counsel for TUI, said even if there had been additional CCTV cameras or guards it "cannot be said that any of these measures would probably have made a difference".But Howard Stevens, counsel for TUI, said even if there had been additional CCTV cameras or guards it "cannot be said that any of these measures would probably have made a difference".
The Foreign Office says further attacks are highly likely in Tunisia, including against foreigners, and advises against all but essential travel.The Foreign Office says further attacks are highly likely in Tunisia, including against foreigners, and advises against all but essential travel.
Questions from the inquestQuestions from the inquest
By Richard Galpin, BBC News correspondentBy Richard Galpin, BBC News correspondent