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Tunisia attack: Thousands of Britons to fly home after warning Tunisia attack: Thousands of Britons to fly home after warning
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of British holidaymakers are to be flown home from Tunisia following warnings that another terrorist attack in the country is "highly likely".Thousands of British holidaymakers are to be flown home from Tunisia following warnings that another terrorist attack in the country is "highly likely".
Thirty Britons were killed in a gun attack in Tunisia last month and the Foreign Office (FCO) has now urged all Britons to leave the country. Thirty Britons were killed in an attack in Sousse last month - and the Foreign Office has now urged all Britons to leave the country.
Extra security measures there did not provide "adequate protection", it said.Extra security measures there did not provide "adequate protection", it said.
The Association of British Travel Agents said its members aimed to bring customers home in the next 48 hours.The Association of British Travel Agents said its members aimed to bring customers home in the next 48 hours.
Between 2,500 and 3,000 British package holidaymakers are believed to be in Tunisia, as well as about 300 independent travellers.Between 2,500 and 3,000 British package holidaymakers are believed to be in Tunisia, as well as about 300 independent travellers.
Tour operators Thomson and First Choice have already cancelled all flights to the country for the rest of the summer season. Security 'chaos'
A gunman killed 38 holidaymakers in the 26 June beach attack, prompting Tunisia to declare a state of emergency.
The Tunisian government also increased security in tourist areas, and announced plans for a wall along the border with Libya, to counter the terror threat.
Tunisia believes gunman Seifeddine Rezgui trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group in Libya, though the Islamic State group has claimed the attack.
Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Rezgui, who was killed after the shooting spree.
The UK government said there was no "specific or imminent" new threat but intelligence had led officials to the view that a further terrorist attack was "highly likely".
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Tunisian investigation into the Sousse attack - and an attack in March on the Bardo Museum near Tunis which left 22 dead, including one Briton - was continuing and Tunisian authorities had "made clear they want to track down further individuals who they suspect may have links" to the attack.
He said a security assessment in tourist areas found more work was needed "to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat".
BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad, in the capital, Tunis, said British detectives and security advisors had been in Sousse for two weeks and they believed the security services were not ready to face another similar extremist attack against foreigners.
There seemed to be "chaos" between the various security structures in Tunisia, she said, adding many high level officials had been sacked since the attack.
"It's very clear that there is a problem in that sector and a lack of trust between them," she said.
Our correspondent added there was "disbelief and devastation" over the UK-issued alert among hotel staff, who now fear they could lose their jobs as the tourism industry falters.
'What terrorists want'
Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the updated travel advice was "what the terrorists want".
"By damaging the tourism, by having foreigners leaving the country, they damage the whole sector and put so many people out of work and on the streets," he said.
Tour operators Thomson and First Choice had already cancelled all flights to the country for the rest of the summer season.
The two firms have also decided to repatriate all their British staff currently working in Tunisia "within the next 24 hours".The two firms have also decided to repatriate all their British staff currently working in Tunisia "within the next 24 hours".
Thomas Cook, which cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia until 31 October, said it was putting on an extra flight on Friday to bring customers back to the UK. Thomas Cook, which has cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia until 31 October, said it was putting on an extra flight on Friday to bring customers back to the UK.
'As soon as possible' The British victims of the Sousse attack
A Thomas Cook spokesman said customers would be flown back to the UK "as soon as we can using third -party carriers and on our 10 scheduled flights over the weekend". A Thomas Cook spokesman said customers would be flown back to the UK "as soon as we can using third-party carriers and on our 10 scheduled flights over the weekend".
Meanwhile, Monarch Airlines said it was arranging to repatriate all customers in resorts back to the UK "as soon as possible" in response to the fresh travel advice.Meanwhile, Monarch Airlines said it was arranging to repatriate all customers in resorts back to the UK "as soon as possible" in response to the fresh travel advice.
It comes as the funeral of two victims of the attack - Jim and Anne McQuire, from Cumbernauld - will be held in their home town later.It comes as the funeral of two victims of the attack - Jim and Anne McQuire, from Cumbernauld - will be held in their home town later.
Background and analysisBackground and analysis
Tunisia declared a state of emergency following the 26 June attack, which happened in the popular resort of Port El Kantaoui, just north of Sousse.
Thirty-eight people died in the gun attack.
Witnesses described how a gunman - identified as Tunisian student Seifeddine Rezgui - opened fire at tourists on sun-loungers outside the five-star Hotel Rui Imperial Marhaba.
It came after 22 people, mostly tourists, were killed at the National Bardo Museum outside Tunis in a separate attack in March.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC that the Tunisian investigations into the attacks were ongoing.
He said that while the British government did not have any information suggesting "a specific or imminent" new threat in Tunisia, intelligence had led officials to the view that a further terrorist attack was "highly likely".
Mr Hammond said an assessment of the security measures in tourist areas found that more work was needed "to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat".
In its updated advice the FCO said although Tunisian authorities had put in place additional security measures since the June attack, these did not provide "adequate protection for British tourists".
It advised against all non-essential travel to Tunisia.
The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said people due to travel to Tunisia should contact the company they had booked through.The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said people due to travel to Tunisia should contact the company they had booked through.
Travelling to Tunisia now would be likely to invalidate travel insurance policies, though most policies would provide cover for those already in the country, Abta added.Travelling to Tunisia now would be likely to invalidate travel insurance policies, though most policies would provide cover for those already in the country, Abta added.
"Those with holidays booked within the next 48 hours to Tunisia are advised to contact your travel company to discuss available options," it said."Those with holidays booked within the next 48 hours to Tunisia are advised to contact your travel company to discuss available options," it said.
But Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, told BBC's Newsnight that the impact of the updated travel advice would be "what the terrorists want".
"By damaging the tourism, by having foreigners leaving the country, they damage the whole sector and put so many people out of work and on the streets," he said.
Mr Ammar added: "One of the sources of terrorism is lack of hope. It is not the only motor of it but it is one of the very important origins."
Are you a British national in Tunisia? Are you following the FCO's travel advice? Send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you a British national in Tunisia? Are you following the FCO's travel advice? Send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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