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Suicide Bombers Attack Security Forces in Tunisia Suicide Bombers Attack Security Forces in Tunisia
(about 1 hour later)
Two suicide bombers struck security forces in quick succession on Thursday morning in the Tunisian capital, killing at least one police officer and wounding several other officers and passers-by, the Interior Ministry said.Two suicide bombers struck security forces in quick succession on Thursday morning in the Tunisian capital, killing at least one police officer and wounding several other officers and passers-by, the Interior Ministry said.
The first bomber struck a security patrol on Rue Charles de Gaulle near the French Embassy just before 11 a.m., killing one police officer, the ministry said in a statement. The first bomber struck a security patrol on Rue Charles de Gaulle near the French Embassy just before 11 a.m., killing one police officer, the ministry said in a statement. That attack occurred near the site of an October 2018 assault on security forces by a female suicide bomber.
Ten minutes later, another bomber detonated a device at the back door of a police department elsewhere in the city, the ministry said. That attack injured four security officers, the ministry said. Ten minutes later, another bomber detonated a device at the back door of a police building in the El Gorjani area of the city, injuring four security officers, the ministry said. The building is part of a large complex that includes the headquarters of an antiterrorism brigade.
Footage taken shortly after the first explosion showed debris scattered on the roadway, and one officer could be seen clutching a wound on his torso and had blood smeared on his neck. The North African country has been wracked by several terrorist attacks over the years, with Islamist extremist groups targeting tourists and the nation’s security forces. Tunisia was the only country after the Arab Spring uprisings to establish a democratic transition by adopting a new Constitution in 2013 and holding its first national presidential elections in 2014.
Footage taken shortly after the first explosion on Thursday showed debris scattered on the roadway, and one officer could be seen clutching a wound on his torso and had blood smeared on his neck. The video also showed what appeared to be body parts scattered on the street.
Several police officers with rifles flooded the area as they scrambled to assess the situation.Several police officers with rifles flooded the area as they scrambled to assess the situation.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place months before an election and during the height of the tourist season.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place months before an election and during the height of the tourist season.
Separately, Tunisia’s president, Béji Caïd Essebsi, was taken to a military hospital on Thursday after suffering a “severe health crisis,” the presidency said in a statement. No further details were immediately available.Separately, Tunisia’s president, Béji Caïd Essebsi, was taken to a military hospital on Thursday after suffering a “severe health crisis,” the presidency said in a statement. No further details were immediately available.
Mr. Essebsi, 92, won Tunisia’s first free presidential election, in 2014. In March, Tunisia’s Truth and Dignity Commission named him for his role in human rights violations in 1963, when he served as a security official under Tunisia’s post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba.Mr. Essebsi, 92, won Tunisia’s first free presidential election, in 2014. In March, Tunisia’s Truth and Dignity Commission named him for his role in human rights violations in 1963, when he served as a security official under Tunisia’s post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba.
Islamist extremist groups have carried out several attacks against tourists and the security forces in Tunisia in recent years. After the twin attacks on Thursday, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed condemned the attack as a “cowardly operation” that aimed to “confuse” Tunisians ahead of the presidential vote in November. It “shows that terrorists are desperate after the major security and military successes of recent years,” he said in a statement.
“I want to tell Tunisians, ‘Don’t be scared,’” he added.
In March 2015, gunmen killed 22 people at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. Three months later, attackers killed 38 people, most of them British tourists, at a beach resort near the town of Sousse. In November that year, a suicide bomber killed 12 members of the presidential guard in central Tunis.In March 2015, gunmen killed 22 people at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. Three months later, attackers killed 38 people, most of them British tourists, at a beach resort near the town of Sousse. In November that year, a suicide bomber killed 12 members of the presidential guard in central Tunis.
In October 2018, 15 security personnel and five civilians were injured in a bombing on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, a main thoroughfare in the capital. In October 2018, 15 security personnel and five civilians were injured in the bombing on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, a main thoroughfare in the capital.