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Sousse inquest likely to reinforce UK travel advice on Tunisia Sousse inquest expected to reinforce UK travel advice on Tunisia
(35 minutes later)
Severe criticisms of Tunisian security forces at the Sousse attack inquest make it unlikely that the Foreign Office will lift its advice against travel to the country.Severe criticisms of Tunisian security forces at the Sousse attack inquest make it unlikely that the Foreign Office will lift its advice against travel to the country.
Tunisia’s interior minister Hédi Majdoub visited London in December for talks with the FCO on easing advice against Britons visiting the country, a move that has dealt a body-blow to the economy. Tunisia’s interior minister, Hédi Majdoub, visited London in December for talks with the FCO on easing advice against Britons visiting the country, a move that has dealt a blow to the economy.
Since the massacre, at which the coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, called the response of security forces “at best shambolic and at worst cowardly”, security at resort towns has tightened up.Since the massacre, at which the coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, called the response of security forces “at best shambolic and at worst cowardly”, security at resort towns has tightened up.
The streets of Sousse, where security forces took 40 minutes to react to the attack at the Imperial Marhaba hotel two years ago, are now heavy with police and troops. Armed units guard junctions while the beaches are patrolled by police on horseback and on dune buggies. The streets of Sousse, where security forces took 40 minutes to react to the attack at the Imperial Marhaba hotel two years ago, are now heavy with police and troops. Armed units guard junctions while the beaches are patrolled by police on horseback and in dune buggies.
Britain has committed military aid to the country, including the deployment of 40 troops to train local forces in counterinsurgency, with defence secretary Michael Fallon two months ago emphasising Britain’s “determination to support our Tunisian allies”. The UK has committed military aid to the country, including the deployment of 40 troops to train local forces in counterinsurgency, with the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, two months ago emphasising Britain’s “determination to support our Tunisian allies”.
But diplomats are hesitant to recommend the country, once the destination for 400,000 Britons a year, as a safe holiday location. But diplomats are hesitant to recommend Tunisia, once the destination for 400,000 Britons a year, as a safe holiday location.
The Sousse attack came three months after 23 foreign tourists and local tour guides were killed by an Islamic State suicide squad at the capital’s Bardo museum. The Sousse attack came three months after 22 foreign tourists and local tour guides were killed by an Islamic State suicide squad at the Bardo National Museum in the capital, Tunis.
Last March Isis briefly occupied Tunisia’s border town of Ben Gardane before being crushed in fighting with the army.Last March Isis briefly occupied Tunisia’s border town of Ben Gardane before being crushed in fighting with the army.
Inside Tunisia, meanwhile, a war against Isis grinds on, fought in cat-and-mouse battles between terrorists and security forces in the south-western mountains and along the Libyan border. Inside Tunisia, meanwhile, a war against Isis grinds on, fought in cat-and-mouse battles between terrorists and security forces in the south-westmountains and along the Libyan border.
Tunisia is arguably the most successful of the so-called Arab Spring states, with democracy proclaimed in its 2010-11 revolution still intact. But paradoxically the country is also a leading source of Isis fighters both at home and abroad. More than 3,000 citizens have joined Isis and other terror groups in Libya, Iraq and Syria. Tunisia is arguably the most successful of the so-called Arab spring states, with democracy proclaimed in its 2010-11 revolution still intact. But paradoxically the country is also a leading source of Isis fighters both at home and abroad. More than 3,000 citizens have joined Isis and other terror groups in Libya, Iraq and Syria.
High profile Isis attackers include Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who used a truck to plough through Bastille Day crowds in Nice, killing 86 last year, and fellow Tunisian Anis Amri who drove the truck that killed 12 in the Berlin Christmas market attack. High-profile Isis attackers include Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who used a truck to plough through Bastille Day crowds in Nice last year, killing 86, and fellow Tunisian Anis Amri who drove the truck that killed 12 in the Berlin Christmas market attack in December.
In his London talks Majdoub emphasised the double effect the loss of tourist revenue is having, not just hitting an already struggling economy, but triggering joblessness and despair among young people that provides a fertile breeding ground for Isis recruiters.In his London talks Majdoub emphasised the double effect the loss of tourist revenue is having, not just hitting an already struggling economy, but triggering joblessness and despair among young people that provides a fertile breeding ground for Isis recruiters.
The Imperial Marhaba closed shortly after the attack and has never re-opened, while hotels across the country struggle to survive. The Imperial Marhaba closed shortly after the attack and has never reopened, while hotels across the country struggle to survive.
British hesitancy to change travel advice is based in part on the difficulty even well-organised security units would find in securing a beach resort, which by its nature is open and difficult to guard against suicide attackers.British hesitancy to change travel advice is based in part on the difficulty even well-organised security units would find in securing a beach resort, which by its nature is open and difficult to guard against suicide attackers.
Many Sousse victims were killed inside the first two minutes, as lone gunman Seifeddine Rezgui sprayed bullets, without warning, along the beach.Many Sousse victims were killed inside the first two minutes, as lone gunman Seifeddine Rezgui sprayed bullets, without warning, along the beach.
Tunisian officials complain that the defeat of Isis is in part out of their hands, as the group operates units in neighbouring Libya that are able to criss-cross the border.Tunisian officials complain that the defeat of Isis is in part out of their hands, as the group operates units in neighbouring Libya that are able to criss-cross the border.
In Tunis, attention has turned to the expected return of Isis terrorists as the group’s fronts collapse in Iraq and Syria. Hundreds of people have held protests in recent weeks saying the promise the returned fighters will be kept in prison is no guarantee against further violence.In Tunis, attention has turned to the expected return of Isis terrorists as the group’s fronts collapse in Iraq and Syria. Hundreds of people have held protests in recent weeks saying the promise the returned fighters will be kept in prison is no guarantee against further violence.