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Tunisia beach attack: coroner rules out neglect by tour operator Tunisia beach attack: 30 Britons were unlawfully killed, coroner rules
(35 minutes later)
The coroner at the inquests into the deaths of 30 Britons killed in a mass shooting in a Tunisian holiday resort in 2015 has rejected an argument by the victims’ families that neglect by the tour operator played a part in the tragedy. Thirty Britons shot dead in a mass shooting at a Tunisian holiday resort were unlawfully killed by a terrorist, a coroner has ruled.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith was delivering his verdict at the end of the seven-week inquest into the terrorist attack outside the Imperial Marhaba hotel in the resort of Sousse. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith was delivering his verdict at the end of the seven-week inquest into the deaths of 30 Britons killed in a mass shooting in a Tunisian holiday resort in 2015 in the resort of Sousse. At the end of summing up the evidence, the coroner said: “My conclusions are that all 30 were unlawfully killed.”
Hundreds of tourists were sunbathing when jihadi Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, killing 38 people, 30 of them British, in a rampage that lasted about 30 minutes. Rezgui was shot dead by Tunisian authorities as he ran from the hotel. But Loraine-Smith also rejected an argument by the victims’ families that neglect by the tour operator played a part in the tragedy.
Hundreds of tourists were sunbathing outside the Imperial Marhaba hotel when jihadi Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, killing 38 people, 30 of them British, in a rampage that lasted about 30 minutes. Rezgui was shot dead by Tunisian authorities as he ran from the hotel.
Tui – the travel company that owns Thomson holidays, through which all 30 of the Britons booked their trip – came under significant scrutiny over its handling of Foreign Office travel advice for Tunisia as well as the security at the hotel.Tui – the travel company that owns Thomson holidays, through which all 30 of the Britons booked their trip – came under significant scrutiny over its handling of Foreign Office travel advice for Tunisia as well as the security at the hotel.
Lawyers representing the families had urged the coroner to rule that neglect played a part in their loved ones’ deaths alongside a conventional finding of “unlawful killing”.Lawyers representing the families had urged the coroner to rule that neglect played a part in their loved ones’ deaths alongside a conventional finding of “unlawful killing”.
But Loraine-Smith told the inquest that legal precedents prevented inquests from applying that conclusion to tourists on holiday because they were not “dependent” on the travel company or hotel. Referring to existing precedents, he said: “They very substantially limit the circumstances in which neglect can feature in the conclusions.”But Loraine-Smith told the inquest that legal precedents prevented inquests from applying that conclusion to tourists on holiday because they were not “dependent” on the travel company or hotel. Referring to existing precedents, he said: “They very substantially limit the circumstances in which neglect can feature in the conclusions.”
The coroner said he agreed with Tui lawyer Howard Stevens QC that it would be a “quantum leap” in the law to consider the holidaymakers as being “dependent”. He said he agreed with Tui lawyer Howard Stevens QC that it would be a “quantum leap” in the law to consider the holidaymakers as being “dependent”.
Loraine-Smith also criticised the police response, describing it as “at best shambolic, at worst cowardly”, and said that officers “could and should have been more effective”.Loraine-Smith also criticised the police response, describing it as “at best shambolic, at worst cowardly”, and said that officers “could and should have been more effective”.
The inquest, which opened at the Royal Courts of Justice in London seven weeks ago, heard emotional and graphic evidence from survivors and relatives of victims. Loraine-Smith is reading a summing up on Tuesday morning before delivering his conclusions one by one for each victim.The inquest, which opened at the Royal Courts of Justice in London seven weeks ago, heard emotional and graphic evidence from survivors and relatives of victims. Loraine-Smith is reading a summing up on Tuesday morning before delivering his conclusions one by one for each victim.
The attack came three months after Islamist militants attacked the Bardo National Museum in the Tunisian capital city of Tunis. They killed 21 people – mostly European tourists – on the spot, and another victim died 10 days later.The attack came three months after Islamist militants attacked the Bardo National Museum in the Tunisian capital city of Tunis. They killed 21 people – mostly European tourists – on the spot, and another victim died 10 days later.
During his summing up, the coroner found that Tui did not inform customers concerned about the Bardo attack where to find the official Foreign Office (FCO) travel advice. He referred to a scripted response to general questions and answers Tui prepared for its staff in the wake of the Bardo deaths in March 2015.During his summing up, the coroner found that Tui did not inform customers concerned about the Bardo attack where to find the official Foreign Office (FCO) travel advice. He referred to a scripted response to general questions and answers Tui prepared for its staff in the wake of the Bardo deaths in March 2015.
The coroner said: “It does not give any details of the attack but only refers to ‘the incident that took place there yesterday’. It doesn’t mention the phrase terrorism. It refers to the FCO advice but it gives no guidance as to where it’s going to be found.”The coroner said: “It does not give any details of the attack but only refers to ‘the incident that took place there yesterday’. It doesn’t mention the phrase terrorism. It refers to the FCO advice but it gives no guidance as to where it’s going to be found.”
He added: “A number of customers did believe they had been reassured to their safety and further customers would not have gone to Tunisia if they had seen the FCO travel advice.”He added: “A number of customers did believe they had been reassured to their safety and further customers would not have gone to Tunisia if they had seen the FCO travel advice.”
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