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| Theresa May: no evidence Tunisia gunman targeted Britons | Theresa May: no evidence Tunisia gunman targeted Britons |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The home secretary, Theresa May, has said there is no evidence that the gunman who shot dead 38 people on a Tunisian beach specifically targeted British tourists, as she warned that the confirmed death toll of 15 Britons was likely to rise. | |
| Thousands of British tourists were preparing to fly home from the coastal resort of Sousse following the massacre on Friday, during which student Seifeddine Rezgui walked down the beach and into a hotel firing a Kalashnikov gun. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. | Thousands of British tourists were preparing to fly home from the coastal resort of Sousse following the massacre on Friday, during which student Seifeddine Rezgui walked down the beach and into a hotel firing a Kalashnikov gun. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. |
| Related: Tunisia attack hero's mother: 'fantastic' seeing couple come home | |
| While many reports suggested Rezgui was targeting tourists – Tunisian workers have recounted that he ordered them to run away – May told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that she did not believe Britons were singled out. | While many reports suggested Rezgui was targeting tourists – Tunisian workers have recounted that he ordered them to run away – May told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that she did not believe Britons were singled out. |
| “As you’ll appreciate, this is still an ongoing investigation and we’re working very closely with the Tunisian authorities in relation to this,” she said. “I’ve seen no evidence so far that this was targeted because there were British tourists there.” | “As you’ll appreciate, this is still an ongoing investigation and we’re working very closely with the Tunisian authorities in relation to this,” she said. “I’ve seen no evidence so far that this was targeted because there were British tourists there.” |
| She added: “But if course we must recognise that this is the most significant loss of British life in a terrorist attack since 7/7 in the UK.” | She added: “But if course we must recognise that this is the most significant loss of British life in a terrorist attack since 7/7 in the UK.” |
| The confirmed total of 15 British dead remained the same, May said. “But we are expecting that to rise.” | The confirmed total of 15 British dead remained the same, May said. “But we are expecting that to rise.” |
| May, who was to chair a meeting on Sunday of the government’s Cobra security committee, said security warnings would remain constant for now. She said, however, that it could be difficult to prevent such future terrorism attacks. | May, who was to chair a meeting on Sunday of the government’s Cobra security committee, said security warnings would remain constant for now. She said, however, that it could be difficult to prevent such future terrorism attacks. |
| “The threat has become more diverse over time,” she said. “That’s why it’s important for us to sustain the counter-terrorism capabilities of the agencies. We have not just those who will plot for some time, perhaps in a group, to plot a complex attack, but also the possibility of more spontaneous attacks, so-called lone-wolf attacks.” | “The threat has become more diverse over time,” she said. “That’s why it’s important for us to sustain the counter-terrorism capabilities of the agencies. We have not just those who will plot for some time, perhaps in a group, to plot a complex attack, but also the possibility of more spontaneous attacks, so-called lone-wolf attacks.” |
| More details have emerged about the confirmed victims, who also include people from Ireland, Germany and Belgium. Among the British dead are known to be three generations of the same family: 19-year-old student Joel Richards, his uncle Adrian Evans, 49, a gas services manager from Tipton in the West Midlands, and his grandfather. Owen Richards, Joel’s 16-year-old brother, survived the attack. | More details have emerged about the confirmed victims, who also include people from Ireland, Germany and Belgium. Among the British dead are known to be three generations of the same family: 19-year-old student Joel Richards, his uncle Adrian Evans, 49, a gas services manager from Tipton in the West Midlands, and his grandfather. Owen Richards, Joel’s 16-year-old brother, survived the attack. |
| Also confirmed killed were Carly Lovett, 24, a photographer and beauty blogger, and a couple in their 40s, Sue Davey and Scott Chalkley. The Irish national confirmed killed is Lorna Carty, a nurse from Robinstown, Co Meath. | Also confirmed killed were Carly Lovett, 24, a photographer and beauty blogger, and a couple in their 40s, Sue Davey and Scott Chalkley. The Irish national confirmed killed is Lorna Carty, a nurse from Robinstown, Co Meath. |
| While official travel advice for Britons heading to Tunisia remains unchanged, the Foreign Office is warning that further attacks are possible, “including by individuals who are unknown to the authorities and whose actions are inspired by terrorist groups via social media”. | While official travel advice for Britons heading to Tunisia remains unchanged, the Foreign Office is warning that further attacks are possible, “including by individuals who are unknown to the authorities and whose actions are inspired by terrorist groups via social media”. |
| British police have joined UK embassy and Foreign Office teams at the resort to help identify victims. | British police have joined UK embassy and Foreign Office teams at the resort to help identify victims. |
| About 20,000 British tourists were on package holidays in Tunisia at the time of the attack, according to the tourism association Abta. Around 2,500 could return to the UK on Sunday, amid concerted efforts by travel firms to fly home those who wished to leave. | About 20,000 British tourists were on package holidays in Tunisia at the time of the attack, according to the tourism association Abta. Around 2,500 could return to the UK on Sunday, amid concerted efforts by travel firms to fly home those who wished to leave. |
| Thomson and First Choice, both part of the Tui group. said they had already returned 1,000 people and that there were still 5,400 remaining. Thomson was organising 11 extra flights due to leave on Sunday. | Thomson and First Choice, both part of the Tui group. said they had already returned 1,000 people and that there were still 5,400 remaining. Thomson was organising 11 extra flights due to leave on Sunday. |
| More details were emerging of the attack. The Washington Post recounted witnesses as saying Rezgui paused at one point to wash his hands and face in the sea, then turned to Tunisian hotel staff who were trying to drag away injured tourists. | More details were emerging of the attack. The Washington Post recounted witnesses as saying Rezgui paused at one point to wash his hands and face in the sea, then turned to Tunisian hotel staff who were trying to drag away injured tourists. |
| “He fired his Kalashnikov into the air and yelled, ‘Run! Get away! I’m not here to kill you!’” Ibrahim Ghrib, 23, a lifeguard, told the paper. | “He fired his Kalashnikov into the air and yelled, ‘Run! Get away! I’m not here to kill you!’” Ibrahim Ghrib, 23, a lifeguard, told the paper. |
| Another young Tunisian man told AFP that the gunman shouted at him and other locals: “The terrorist told us: ‘Stay away, I didn’t come for you’. He did not fire at us – he fired at the tourists.” | Another young Tunisian man told AFP that the gunman shouted at him and other locals: “The terrorist told us: ‘Stay away, I didn’t come for you’. He did not fire at us – he fired at the tourists.” |
| One Tunisian builder said he helped stop the attack by knocking over the attacker with tiles thrown from the roof, allowing police to shoot him. The man told Channel 4 News he saw Rezgui escape down an alleyway after the shooting and threw the tiles, yelling: “You terrorist, you dog.” Rezgui fell to the floor, and got up shooting wildly, allowing police to catch him, he said. | One Tunisian builder said he helped stop the attack by knocking over the attacker with tiles thrown from the roof, allowing police to shoot him. The man told Channel 4 News he saw Rezgui escape down an alleyway after the shooting and threw the tiles, yelling: “You terrorist, you dog.” Rezgui fell to the floor, and got up shooting wildly, allowing police to catch him, he said. |
| On Saturday evening, tourists joined local people for a candlelit vigil. Some people held posters saying “Peace” and “Sousse will never die”. | On Saturday evening, tourists joined local people for a candlelit vigil. Some people held posters saying “Peace” and “Sousse will never die”. |
| It is the second major attack in Tunisia this year. In March, 21 people, mainly tourists, died when an Islamist-inspired gunman fired at visitors arriving at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. | It is the second major attack in Tunisia this year. In March, 21 people, mainly tourists, died when an Islamist-inspired gunman fired at visitors arriving at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. |
| Tunisia’s tourism minister called Friday’s attack a “catastrophe” and authorities vowed to toughen security. | Tunisia’s tourism minister called Friday’s attack a “catastrophe” and authorities vowed to toughen security. |