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Tunisia attack on Sousse beach 'kills 37' Tunisia attack on Sousse beach 'kills 37'
(35 minutes later)
At least 37 people, mostly foreigners, have been killed and 36 injured in an attack on a beach in the Tunisian resort town of Sousse, according to the health ministry.At least 37 people, mostly foreigners, have been killed and 36 injured in an attack on a beach in the Tunisian resort town of Sousse, according to the health ministry.
Officials say one gunman has been shot dead and another is being pursued. Video footage showed the body of a suspected gunman lying in a street.
Tunisians, Britons, Germans and Belgians and at least one Irish citizen are among the dead.Tunisians, Britons, Germans and Belgians and at least one Irish citizen are among the dead.
In March militants killed 22 people, mainly foreign tourists, in an attack on a museum in the capital Tunis.In March militants killed 22 people, mainly foreign tourists, in an attack on a museum in the capital Tunis.
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has gone to Sousse's Sahloul hospital to visit the injured.Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has gone to Sousse's Sahloul hospital to visit the injured.
Security officials said one attacker, who had posed as a swimmer but was carrying a rifle under a parasol, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police. Security officials said one attacker, who had posed as a swimmer but was carrying a rifle under a parasol, started shooting on the beach before entering the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba, continuing to shoot as he walked past the pool.
Local media reported that the second attacker had been arrested, but this has not been confirmed. A photo purporting to show the body of the first attacker is circulating on social media. He was then shot dead in an exchange of fire with police, officials said. They said he was a student not previously known to authorities.
Local media reported that a second suspected attacker had been arrested, but this has not been confirmed.
Day of attacksDay of attacks
The shooting in Tunisia comes on the same day as:The shooting in Tunisia comes on the same day as:
France, Kuwait and Tunisia attacks: What we knowFrance, Kuwait and Tunisia attacks: What we know
Who could be behind Tunisia attack?Who could be behind Tunisia attack?
One of those killed was an Irish woman, Irish Foreign Minister Charles Flanagan said. One British holidaymaker in Sousse, Steve Johnson, told the BBC: "We were just laying on the beach as usual and... we heard what we thought at first was fireworks.
A British man on holiday told the BBC that he heard the attack on a neighbouring hotel. "But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people screaming and starting to run."
From his room, he saw a man with a pistol but did not know whether this was an attacker or a member of the security forces. The Islamic State militant group had called on its followers to increase attacks during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, but no-one has yet said they were behind this attack.
The Hotel Imperial Marhaba was named as one of the hotels close to the attack. Analysis: BBC's Aidan Lewis
Analysis by the BBC's Aidan Lewis
It is often hard to prove the links between separate cases of bloodshed, even when claims of responsibility are issued by the same group.It is often hard to prove the links between separate cases of bloodshed, even when claims of responsibility are issued by the same group.
Violence is often driven by local grievances, with militant factions switching allegiances as the fortunes of bigger international "franchises" like al-Qaeda and Islamic State rise and fall.Violence is often driven by local grievances, with militant factions switching allegiances as the fortunes of bigger international "franchises" like al-Qaeda and Islamic State rise and fall.
That leads to uncertainty as to whether the bigger group directed, co-ordinated, or inspired a given attack, or simply claimed it after the fact. That is what officials and security analysts will be seeking to understand in the aftermath of this bloody day.That leads to uncertainty as to whether the bigger group directed, co-ordinated, or inspired a given attack, or simply claimed it after the fact. That is what officials and security analysts will be seeking to understand in the aftermath of this bloody day.
Could attacks be connected?Could attacks be connected?
Briton Glenn Leathley told the BBC his daughter had been at the scene and rang him to say "there's gunfire on the beach". 'He took a bullet for me'
Another British holidaymaker, Steve Johnson, told the BBC: "We were just laying on the beach as usual and... we heard what we thought at first was fireworks. One survivor told the BBC how her fiancee, a Welsh tourist, had been shot three times as he used his body as a shield.
"But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people screaming and starting to run." "He took a bullet for me," said Saera Wilson. "I owe him my life because he threw himself in front of me when the shooting started.
One image circulating on social media appeared to show a man lying face down in the sand with what looks like blood around his head. "It was the bravest thing I've ever known. But I just had to leave him under the sunbed because the shooting just kept on coming.
The Islamic State militant group had called on its followers to increase attacks during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, but no-one has yet said they were behind this attack. "I ran back, past bodies on the beach to reach our hotel. It was chaos - there was a body in the hotel pool and it was just full of blood.
Welsh tourist was human shield
The UK Foreign Office said the British embassy in Tunis was sending a crisis team to the area.The UK Foreign Office said the British embassy in Tunis was sending a crisis team to the area.
"Any British nationals in these hotels or nearby should remain indoors, and contact their tour operator and the Foreign Office. For security reasons they should not advertise their location on social media or when speaking to journalists," the FCO said in its updated travel advice."Any British nationals in these hotels or nearby should remain indoors, and contact their tour operator and the Foreign Office. For security reasons they should not advertise their location on social media or when speaking to journalists," the FCO said in its updated travel advice.
The Belgian foreign ministry is advising against all travel to Tunisia and the Belgian Jetairfly airline has announced it is cancelling all flights to Tunisia because of the attack.The Belgian foreign ministry is advising against all travel to Tunisia and the Belgian Jetairfly airline has announced it is cancelling all flights to Tunisia because of the attack.
A spokeswoman for the Thomson and First Choice tour operators said: "We are working closely with our teams in Tunisia and the relevant authorities to determine exactly what has happened and provide assistance to those affected."A spokeswoman for the Thomson and First Choice tour operators said: "We are working closely with our teams in Tunisia and the relevant authorities to determine exactly what has happened and provide assistance to those affected."
Tunisia has seen militant Islamists gain strength since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising in 2011. Friday's attack was the deadliest in Tunisia's recent history. The country has seen militant Islamists gain strength since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising in 2011.
Democratic elections after Ben Ali's removal saw the moderate Islamist Ennahda party take power before the secularist Nidaa Tounes government won a parliamentary poll in October.Democratic elections after Ben Ali's removal saw the moderate Islamist Ennahda party take power before the secularist Nidaa Tounes government won a parliamentary poll in October.
However, neither party has been able effectively to combat Islamist violence made worse by a raging conflict in neighbouring Libya and by Tunisian fighters returning home after going to join Islamist campaigns in Iraq and Syria.However, neither party has been able effectively to combat Islamist violence made worse by a raging conflict in neighbouring Libya and by Tunisian fighters returning home after going to join Islamist campaigns in Iraq and Syria.
Are you in Sousse? Have you been affected by the attack? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Are you in Sousse? Have you been affected by the attack? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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