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Tunisia attack: Fears grow for Irish in beach attack | Tunisia attack: Fears grow for Irish in beach attack |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has said there are "grave" concerns that more Irish people may have been caught up in an attack on a Tunisian beach resort. | The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has said there are "grave" concerns that more Irish people may have been caught up in an attack on a Tunisian beach resort. |
One Irish woman has already been confirmed as being among at least 38 people killed in the gun attack. | One Irish woman has already been confirmed as being among at least 38 people killed in the gun attack. |
She has been named locally as Lorna Carty, from Robinstown in County Meath. | She has been named locally as Lorna Carty, from Robinstown in County Meath. |
Islamic State extremists claimed responsibility for the attack in Sousse on Friday. Fifteen Britons have died. | |
Foreign Minister Tobias Ellwood warned the death toll was likely to rise. | |
The Tunisian prime minister Habib Essid has said the majority of those killed were British. | |
Charlie Flanagan, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, said: "I can confirm that there is grave concern for two other Irish citizens who had been at the scene of the attacks. | Charlie Flanagan, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, said: "I can confirm that there is grave concern for two other Irish citizens who had been at the scene of the attacks. |
"The process of full and formal identification of victims is continuing in Tunis and will take a period of time before it is completed." | "The process of full and formal identification of victims is continuing in Tunis and will take a period of time before it is completed." |
He added that the family members of the two people the authorities had concerns for had been contacted. | He added that the family members of the two people the authorities had concerns for had been contacted. |
Ms Carty, who was in her 50s, was on holiday with her husband Declan. | Ms Carty, who was in her 50s, was on holiday with her husband Declan. |
He was uninjured but is said to be "absolutely distraught". | He was uninjured but is said to be "absolutely distraught". |
Irish politician Ray Butler said he had spoken to Ms Carty's husband. | Irish politician Ray Butler said he had spoken to Ms Carty's husband. |
"It was one of the hardest phone calls I've ever made and it's so sad to hear what happened," Mr Butler told Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. | "It was one of the hardest phone calls I've ever made and it's so sad to hear what happened," Mr Butler told Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. |
The attack started at about noon on Friday when the gunman started shooting on a beach close to two tourist hotels. | The attack started at about noon on Friday when the gunman started shooting on a beach close to two tourist hotels. |
The gunman was then shot dead by police. He was named later as Seifeddine Rezgui. | The gunman was then shot dead by police. He was named later as Seifeddine Rezgui. |
Tunisia is a popular destination for Irish tourists. | Tunisia is a popular destination for Irish tourists. |
'Screaming' | |
Some holidaymakers who returned to Ireland on Friday night said their break had turned into hell. | Some holidaymakers who returned to Ireland on Friday night said their break had turned into hell. |
Anthony and Betty Tunstead, from Dublin, were part of a group of four that cut their holiday short. | Anthony and Betty Tunstead, from Dublin, were part of a group of four that cut their holiday short. |
Ms Tunstead told RTÉ there was screaming and chaos as the shooting started. | |
"We went into one room and kept there for a while. I came back out and here's a boyo in the lobby with a machine gun," she said. | "We went into one room and kept there for a while. I came back out and here's a boyo in the lobby with a machine gun," she said. |
"We didn't make eye contact because he was looking to see where he was jumping off the parapet. He didn't see me." | "We didn't make eye contact because he was looking to see where he was jumping off the parapet. He didn't see me." |
Ms Tunstead said had it been a different day they might not have escaped alive. | Ms Tunstead said had it been a different day they might not have escaped alive. |
Marian King, from Lucan in County Dublin, told RTÉ she and her family had managed to get into a hotel room when the shooting began. | Marian King, from Lucan in County Dublin, told RTÉ she and her family had managed to get into a hotel room when the shooting began. |
"People were running down the corridors screaming to be let into bedrooms," she said. | "People were running down the corridors screaming to be let into bedrooms," she said. |
The Irish government is warning people travelling to Tunisia to "exercise extreme caution". | The Irish government is warning people travelling to Tunisia to "exercise extreme caution". |