This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33287978

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Tunisia attack on Sousse beach 'kills 37' Tunisia attack on Sousse beach 'kills 39'
(about 2 hours 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 39 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.
Video footage showed the body of a suspected gunman lying in a street.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.
At least five Britons are confirmed dead, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said, adding "we must expect more reports of fatalities". At least five Britons are confirmed dead, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said, adding: "We must expect more reports of fatalities".
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has gone to Sousse's Sahloul hospital to visit the injured and promised "painful but necessary measures" in the wake of the attack. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has gone to Sousse hospital to visit the injured and promised "painful but necessary measures" in the wake of the attack.
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.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.
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.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.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 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. One British holidaymaker in Sousse, Steve Johnson, told the BBC: "We were just lying on the beach as usual and... we heard what we thought at first was fireworks.
"But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people screaming and starting to run.""But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people screaming and starting to run."
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 Islamic State (IS) 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.
Social media accounts close to IS have praised the attack and showed pictures of the man they say carried out the killings.
Analysis: BBC's Aidan LewisAnalysis: 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?
'He took a bullet for me''He took a bullet for me'
One survivor told the BBC how her fiance, a Welsh tourist, had been shot three times as he used his body as a shield.One survivor told the BBC how her fiance, a Welsh tourist, had been shot three times as he used his body as a shield.
"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."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.
"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."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.
"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."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 shieldWelsh 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," the FCO said in its updated travel advice.
The Belgian foreign ministry is advising against all travel to Tunisia and the Belgian Jetairfly airline recalled a flight en route to Tunisia in mid-air, later announcing 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 recalled a flight en route to Tunisia in mid-air, later announcing 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."
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.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.
Share your pictures with us, email yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, or tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay.Share your pictures with us, email yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, or tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay.
You could also send us pictures on WhatsApp. Our number is: +44 7525 900971.You could also send us pictures on WhatsApp. Our number is: +44 7525 900971.
Read our terms and conditions.Read our terms and conditions.