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Foreign Office advises Britons to leave Tunisia in wake of attack Foreign Office advises Britons to leave Tunisia in wake of attack
(35 minutes later)
British tourists are being advised to leave Tunisia immediately amid intelligence warnings of further terrorist attacks and concerns that the local authorities are unable to provide adequate protection. British tourists are being advised to leave Tunisia immediately after intelligence warnings of further terrorist attacks and concerns that the local authorities are unable to provide adequate protection.
Tour operators are organising extra flights to bring back more than 3,000 UK tourists to Britain after the Foreign Office amended its travel advice to warn against all but essential travel to the country. Tour operators are organising extra flights to bring back more than 3,000 UK tourists after the Foreign Office amended its travel advice to warn against all but essential travel to the country.
Related: Tunisia killers have declared war on Britain, says David CameronRelated: Tunisia killers have declared war on Britain, says David Cameron
Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice holidays announced they have cancelled outbound flights to Tunisia for the summer season, up to and including 31 October. Thomas Cook has chartered extra flights – in addition to its own ten scheduled flights over the weekend – to repatriate its tourists in Tunisia. Thomson and First Choice currently have no tourists in Tunisia but will repatriate all their staff from the country within the next 24 hours. Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice announced they have cancelled outbound flights to Tunisia for the summer season, up to and including 31 October. Thomas Cook has chartered extra flights – in addition to its own 10 scheduled flights over the weekend – to repatriate its holidaymakers. Thomson and First Choice currently have no customers in Tunisia but will repatriate all their staff from the country within the next 24 hours.
Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, told the BBC that the FCO travel advice had been amended amid fears that a further terrorist attack was highly likely. “While we do not have any information suggesting a specific or imminent threat, since the attack in Sousse the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, leading us to the view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, told the BBC that the FCO travel advice had been amended amid fears that a further terrorist attack was highly likely. “While we do not have any information suggesting a specific or imminent threat, since the attack in Sousse the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, leading us to the view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.
“The Tunisian investigation into those behind the Sousse attack, and that on the Bardo Museum earlier this year, is on-going and the Tunisians have made clear they want to track down further individuals who they suspect may have links to this attack.“The Tunisian investigation into those behind the Sousse attack, and that on the Bardo Museum earlier this year, is on-going and the Tunisians have made clear they want to track down further individuals who they suspect may have links to this attack.
“Furthermore, we have now completed an assessment of the security measures in tourist areas and while we are working with the Tunisian authorities to further strengthen those measures, we judge that more work is needed to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat.“Furthermore, we have now completed an assessment of the security measures in tourist areas and while we are working with the Tunisian authorities to further strengthen those measures, we judge that more work is needed to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat.
“Taking all these factors together, we judge that it is right and prudent to make this change today.”“Taking all these factors together, we judge that it is right and prudent to make this change today.”
British officials hope that extra flights laid on by tour operators will mean the estimated 2,500 to 3,000 tourists in the country on package holidays will be flown home within the next two to three days. The foreign office is also reaching out to the estimated 300 British tourists travelling independently in Tunisia with advice for them to return home on scheduled flights or on the extra flights organised by the tour operators. There were 20,000 British tourists in Tunisia at the time of the gun attack in Sousse last month, which claimed the lives of 38 tourists, of whom 30 were British. British officials hope that extra flights laid on by tour operators will mean the estimated 2,500 to 3,000 UK tourists on package holidays in the country will be flown home within the next two to three days. The Foreign Office is also reaching out to the estimated 300 British tourists travelling independently in Tunisia with advice for them to return home on scheduled flights or on the extra flights organised by the tour operators. There were 20,000 British tourists in Tunisia at the time of the gun attack in Sousse last month, which claimed the lives of 38 holidaymakers, of whom 30 were British.
The foreign secretary interrupted negotiations in Vienna on Iran’s nuclear programme on Thursday afternoon to telephone the Tunisian prime minister, Habib Essid, to inform him of what is being described as a serious upgrade of the UK’s travel advice. Essid warned on Wednesday of further attacks and Britain’s intelligence agencies are advising that such attacks are highly likely.The foreign secretary interrupted negotiations in Vienna on Iran’s nuclear programme on Thursday afternoon to telephone the Tunisian prime minister, Habib Essid, to inform him of what is being described as a serious upgrade of the UK’s travel advice. Essid warned on Wednesday of further attacks and Britain’s intelligence agencies are advising that such attacks are highly likely.
In a statement on its website, the FCO said the British authorities have been working closely with the Tunisian authorities since the Sousse gun attack. But the FCO said it feared a further attack and had concerns about security measures in place to protect tourists.In a statement on its website, the FCO said the British authorities have been working closely with the Tunisian authorities since the Sousse gun attack. But the FCO said it feared a further attack and had concerns about security measures in place to protect tourists.
The travel advice says: “Since the attack in Sousse, we have been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to investigate the attack and the wider threat from terrorist groups in Tunisia. Although we have had good co-operation from the Tunisian government, including putting in place additional security measures, the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, reinforcing our view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely. The travel advice says: “Since the attack in Sousse, we have been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to investigate the attack and the wider threat from terrorist groups in Tunisia. Although we have had good cooperation from the Tunisian government, including putting in place additional security measures, the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, reinforcing our view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.
“On balance, we do not believe the mitigation measures in place provide adequate protection for British tourists in Tunisia at the present time and we have therefore changed our travel advice accordingly.”“On balance, we do not believe the mitigation measures in place provide adequate protection for British tourists in Tunisia at the present time and we have therefore changed our travel advice accordingly.”
The advice is against all but essential travel to the whole of the country, which means tourists should leave immediately and those with holidays booked should avoid Tunisia. The FCO said: “If you’re in Tunisia and you don’t have an essential need to remain you should leave by commercial means. Tour operators are arranging additional flights and will be organising departures for their customers. If you’re travelling with a tour operator, you should contact your tour operator’s representative in the first instance.The advice is against all but essential travel to the whole of the country, which means tourists should leave immediately and those with holidays booked should avoid Tunisia. The FCO said: “If you’re in Tunisia and you don’t have an essential need to remain you should leave by commercial means. Tour operators are arranging additional flights and will be organising departures for their customers. If you’re travelling with a tour operator, you should contact your tour operator’s representative in the first instance.
“If you’re travelling independently, you should make your own arrangements to leave. Commercial airlines are operating.”“If you’re travelling independently, you should make your own arrangements to leave. Commercial airlines are operating.”
Nikhil Patel, 18, from Luton, arrived in a seaside town to the south of Tunis, on Wednesday morning. He is staying in a hotel, along with a host of other British tourists, on a two-week holiday. Nikhil Patel, 18, from Luton, arrived in a seaside town to the south of the capital, Tunis, on Wednesday morning. He is staying in a hotel, along with a host of other British tourists, on a two-week holiday.
He said: “Everything is fine so far because the security is very high. I spend all day on the beach and you see police officers walking around with guns, keeping an eye on everything. Even the locals are on full alert.”He said: “Everything is fine so far because the security is very high. I spend all day on the beach and you see police officers walking around with guns, keeping an eye on everything. Even the locals are on full alert.”
He said he had just seen the Foreign Office’s advice on the news but he planned to stay until his travel firm advised him to leave. “I am making the most of it because I get the feeling we might be leaving.” He said he had just seen the FCO advice on the news but he planned to stay until his travel firm advised him to leave. “I am making the most of it because I get the feeling we might be leaving.”
At the British embassy in Tunis, a spokesman said that fewer than 3,000 British holidaymakers are currently in Tunisia, “the vast majority of them” on holidays organised by Thomas Cook. At the British embassy in Tunis, a spokesman said that fewer than 3,000 British tourists are in Tunisia, “the vast majority of them” on holidays organised by Thomas Cook.
The Imperial Marhaba hotel, scene of the attack last month, had as guests British visitors on packages booked with Tui’s Thomson and First Choice brands. These companies at present have no British tourists in the country, the spokesman said. The Imperial Marhaba hotel, scene of the attack last month, had as guests British visitors on packages booked with Tui’s Thomson and First Choice brands. These companies at present have no British customers in the country, the spokesman said.
The change to the travel advice comes as the UK authorities now have better access to intelligence gathered by the Tunisian security services, he added.The change to the travel advice comes as the UK authorities now have better access to intelligence gathered by the Tunisian security services, he added.
The FCO added: “Further terrorist attacks are highly likely, including in tourist resorts, and by individuals unknown to the authorities whose actions may be inspired by terrorist groups via social media. You should be especially vigilant at this time and follow the advice of the Tunisian security authorities and your tour operator, if you have one.The FCO added: “Further terrorist attacks are highly likely, including in tourist resorts, and by individuals unknown to the authorities whose actions may be inspired by terrorist groups via social media. You should be especially vigilant at this time and follow the advice of the Tunisian security authorities and your tour operator, if you have one.
Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victimsRelated: Tunisia beach attack: the victims
“There is a high threat from terrorism in Tunisia. On 4 July the Tunisian government announced it was reinstating the state of emergency, lifted in 2014, as part of its continuing response to the recent terrorist attacks. On 8 July the Tunisian prime minister stated publicly that further attacks were likely. The Tunisian authorities have increased their security measures but have also acknowledged the limitations in their ability to counter the current terrorist threat.”“There is a high threat from terrorism in Tunisia. On 4 July the Tunisian government announced it was reinstating the state of emergency, lifted in 2014, as part of its continuing response to the recent terrorist attacks. On 8 July the Tunisian prime minister stated publicly that further attacks were likely. The Tunisian authorities have increased their security measures but have also acknowledged the limitations in their ability to counter the current terrorist threat.”
In its statement the FCO also advised against all travel to:In its statement the FCO also advised against all travel to:
It is understood that the Tunisian prime minister understood Britain’s decision to upgrade its travel advice. In his telephone conversation with Essid, Hammond praised Tunisia’s response to the Sousse attack, which involved a noticeable increase in security forces in popular tourist areas. But Britain believes that the Tunisian authorities have some way to go to provide security which would allow tourists to remain in the country in safety.It is understood that the Tunisian prime minister understood Britain’s decision to upgrade its travel advice. In his telephone conversation with Essid, Hammond praised Tunisia’s response to the Sousse attack, which involved a noticeable increase in security forces in popular tourist areas. But Britain believes that the Tunisian authorities have some way to go to provide security which would allow tourists to remain in the country in safety.