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Tunisia attack on Sousse beach 'kills 37' | |
(about 1 hour 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. | |
Officials say one gunman has been shot dead and another is being pursued. | Officials say one gunman has been shot dead and another is being pursued. |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
Day of terror | |
The attack in Tunisia comes on the same day as: | |
France, Kuwait and Tunisia attacks: What we know | |
One of those killed was an Irish woman, Irish Foreign Minister Charles Flanagan said. | |
A British man on holiday told the BBC that he heard the attack on a neighbouring hotel. | A British man on holiday told the BBC that he heard the attack on a neighbouring hotel. |
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. | 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 Hotel Imperial Marhaba was named as one of the hotels close to the attack. | The Hotel Imperial Marhaba was named as one of the hotels close to the attack. |
Briton Glenn Leathley told the BBC his daughter had been at the scene and rang him to say "there's gunfire on the beach". | Briton Glenn Leathley told the BBC his daughter had been at the scene and rang him to say "there's gunfire on the beach". |
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. | 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. |
"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." |
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. | 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. |
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 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 Belgian Jetairfly airline has announced it is cancelling all flights to Tunisia because of the attack. | 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. | 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. |
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. |
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