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Suicide Bombers Attack Security Forces in Tunisia Suicide Bombers Attack Security Forces in Tunisia
(32 minutes 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.
It was the second suicide assault on the streets of Tunis in nine months, stoking worries of renewed instability in a country that emerged as a rare democratic success following the Arab Spring in 2011. It was the second suicide assault on the streets of Tunis in nine months, stoking worries of renewed instability in a country that emerged as a rare democratic success after the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011.
The previous attack, in October, was carried out by an unemployed female graduate who, according to her family, had been radicalized online. The previous attack, in October 2018, was carried out by an unemployed female graduate who, according to her family, had been radicalized online.
The first bomber on Thursday struck a security patrol on Rue Charles de Gaulle, near the French Embassy, just before 11 a.m., killing one police officer, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. That attack occurred near the site of the October bombing.The first bomber on Thursday struck a security patrol on Rue Charles de Gaulle, near the French Embassy, just before 11 a.m., killing one police officer, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. That attack occurred near the site of the October bombing.
Ten minutes later, another bomber detonated a device at the back door of a police building in the El Gorjani area of the city, wounding four security officers, the ministry said. The building is part of a large complex that includes the headquarters of an antiterrorism brigade.Ten minutes later, another bomber detonated a device at the back door of a police building in the El Gorjani area of the city, wounding four security officers, the ministry said. The building is part of a large complex that includes the headquarters of an antiterrorism brigade.
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. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place months before an election and during the height of the tourist season, and on the same day that Tunisia’s president was taken to a hospital for what officials called a health crisis.
Prime Minister Youssef Chahed condemned the attacks 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.
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 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.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. 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. Later, amid reports circulating on social media that Mr. Essebsi had died, the president’s office issued a statement on its Facebook page that said the president had been transferred to a military hospital and was in stable condition.
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.
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. On Thursday afternoon, a sense of strained normality prevailed in Tunis, as shops reopened near the site of the bombings.
“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 the bombing on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, a main thoroughfare in the capital. In October, 15 security personnel and five civilians were injured in the bombing on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, a main thoroughfare in the capital.