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| Tunisia travel alert: Thousands of Britons fly home | Tunisia travel alert: Thousands of Britons fly home |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first of thousands of British holidaymakers have returned home from Tunisia after a warning that another terror attack is "highly likely". | The first of thousands of British holidaymakers have returned home from Tunisia after a warning that another terror attack is "highly likely". |
| Thirty Britons were killed in an attack in Sousse last month - and the Foreign Office has urged Britons to leave. | Thirty Britons were killed in an attack in Sousse last month - and the Foreign Office has urged Britons to leave. |
| The move drew criticism from tourists and Tunisia, which said it had done all it could to protect people. | The move drew criticism from tourists and Tunisia, which said it had done all it could to protect people. |
| But the UK defended its stance - the foreign secretary saying it was "too big a risk" not to issue the advice. | But the UK defended its stance - the foreign secretary saying it was "too big a risk" not to issue the advice. |
| Philip Hammond said the UK hoped to downgrade its travel guidance "in the not too distant future". | Philip Hammond said the UK hoped to downgrade its travel guidance "in the not too distant future". |
| A gunman killed 38 holidaymakers in the 26 June beach attack, prompting Tunisia to declare a state of emergency and increased security at tourist sites. | A gunman killed 38 holidaymakers in the 26 June beach attack, prompting Tunisia to declare a state of emergency and increased security at tourist sites. |
| Ireland, where three of the victims were from, has also warned against "all non-essential travel" to the country. Denmark followed suit but Germany, which had one national among the dead, and France have not altered their advice. | Ireland, where three of the victims were from, has also warned against "all non-essential travel" to the country. Denmark followed suit but Germany, which had one national among the dead, and France have not altered their advice. |
| 'In tears' | 'In tears' |
| Between 2,500 and 3,000 British package holidaymakers are believed to be in Tunisia, as well as about 500 independent travellers. | Between 2,500 and 3,000 British package holidaymakers are believed to be in Tunisia, as well as about 500 independent travellers. |
| The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said its members were aiming to bring customers home in the next 48 hours. | The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said its members were aiming to bring customers home in the next 48 hours. |
| The first British tourists arrived at Manchester Airport shortly after 13:00 BST, with some criticising the government's handling of the situation. | The first British tourists arrived at Manchester Airport shortly after 13:00 BST, with some criticising the government's handling of the situation. |
| Tracey Caburn, from Pontefract, who returned from Tunisia with her mother and sister, said: "We didn't feel threatened at all. There were guards on the roof, the gates, the beach. We wanted to stay. If they were going to bring us home so quickly they should not have let us fly out in the first place." | |
| Craig Lewis, from Oldbury in the West Midlands, said: "I got out there yesterday, just getting settled, and it's time to come home. | Craig Lewis, from Oldbury in the West Midlands, said: "I got out there yesterday, just getting settled, and it's time to come home. |
| "It's disappointing but for the British government to say there's going to be another terrorist event, it is best to come home." | "It's disappointing but for the British government to say there's going to be another terrorist event, it is best to come home." |
| Les Aston, from Shrewsbury, said: "It's just not fair. I feel very disappointed. They let us go out there and now we've been brought back home. It makes no sense. | Les Aston, from Shrewsbury, said: "It's just not fair. I feel very disappointed. They let us go out there and now we've been brought back home. It makes no sense. |
| "The staff were in tears when we left the hotel. Tourism in Tunisia will be ruined." | "The staff were in tears when we left the hotel. Tourism in Tunisia will be ruined." |
| 'Confused and angry': British tourists return home | 'Confused and angry': British tourists return home |
| 'Emerging threat' | |
| The UK government had stressed there was no new "specific or imminent" threat but intelligence had led officials to the view that a further attack was "highly likely" and action was needed to "protect tourists from the terrorist threat". | |
| Defending the move, Mr Hammond said the government had been careful not to act in a "knee-jerk manner". | |
| "We now have a much better picture of the emerging scale of the threat as well as a much better understanding of the mitigations the Tunisians have put in place," he said. | |
| "We have had to take the decision that it is too big a risk to continue allowing British tourists to travel in Tunisia." | |
| Mr Hammond said Tunisian authorities were continuing to hunt individuals suspected of having links to the Sousse attack and an attack in March on the Bardo Museum near Tunis which left 22 dead, including one Briton. | |
| In response, the Tunisian prime minister said the country had done "everything we can to protect (British) citizens and their interests, as well as those of all other countries". | In response, the Tunisian prime minister said the country had done "everything we can to protect (British) citizens and their interests, as well as those of all other countries". |
| Habib Essid said the government would help people leave but he planned to speak to British counterpart David Cameron about the change in travel advice. | Habib Essid said the government would help people leave but he planned to speak to British counterpart David Cameron about the change in travel advice. |
| Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the move played into the hands of extremists, adding: "This is what the terrorists want." | Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the move played into the hands of extremists, adding: "This is what the terrorists want." |
| And a former UK ambassador to Libya questioned why the Foreign Office was focusing on Tunisia when there had been other deadly attacks on the same day in Kuwait and France. | And a former UK ambassador to Libya questioned why the Foreign Office was focusing on Tunisia when there had been other deadly attacks on the same day in Kuwait and France. |
| "Is it simply because 30 people got killed there two weeks ago? It's not a good reason," said Oliver Miles. | "Is it simply because 30 people got killed there two weeks ago? It's not a good reason," said Oliver Miles. |
| Mr Cameron's official spokeswoman said the revised travel advice was based on information received over the previous 24 hours. | Mr Cameron's official spokeswoman said the revised travel advice was based on information received over the previous 24 hours. |
| One Whitehall official told the BBC it was a "very tough decision" and the government was "working hard with the Tunisians to get to a point in the future where we can reverse this decision". | |
| Abta said those due to travel to Tunisia should contact the company they had booked through. | Abta said those due to travel to Tunisia should contact the company they had booked through. |
| Travelling to the country now would be likely to invalidate travel insurance policies, though most policies would provide cover for those already in the country, it added. | Travelling to the country now would be likely to invalidate travel insurance policies, though most policies would provide cover for those already in the country, it added. |
| How will this affect my summer getaway? | How will this affect my summer getaway? |
| Kevin Peachey, personal finance reporter | Kevin Peachey, personal finance reporter |
| Many families will have booked to travel to Tunisia during the school summer holidays. Most should be able to go elsewhere without losing out financially, or get their money back. | Many families will have booked to travel to Tunisia during the school summer holidays. Most should be able to go elsewhere without losing out financially, or get their money back. |
| Travellers on package deals must be offered an alternative or a full refund by their travel company, for as long as Foreign Office advice suggests no travel to Tunisia. | Travellers on package deals must be offered an alternative or a full refund by their travel company, for as long as Foreign Office advice suggests no travel to Tunisia. |
| Those who have booked flights and accommodation separately should find that airlines will offer to reschedule flights. | Those who have booked flights and accommodation separately should find that airlines will offer to reschedule flights. |
| Cancellation fees may apply for accommodation or car hire. To get that money back, a claim on travel insurance may be needed. Some travel insurance policies, but not all, will cover the cost of cancellation. | Cancellation fees may apply for accommodation or car hire. To get that money back, a claim on travel insurance may be needed. Some travel insurance policies, but not all, will cover the cost of cancellation. |
| Most travel insurance policies can be transferred to new dates if an alternative holiday has been agreed between a holiday company and customer. | Most travel insurance policies can be transferred to new dates if an alternative holiday has been agreed between a holiday company and customer. |
| Tour operators are prioritising the 3,000 plus people on holiday in Tunisia, and those travelling in the next 48 hours. If you are travelling in a few weeks' time, it might take a while to get any new holiday plans finalised. | Tour operators are prioritising the 3,000 plus people on holiday in Tunisia, and those travelling in the next 48 hours. If you are travelling in a few weeks' time, it might take a while to get any new holiday plans finalised. |
| Tunisia holiday booked - what are your options now? | Tunisia holiday booked - what are your options now? |
| Q&A for holidaymakers from Abta. | Q&A for holidaymakers from Abta. |
| BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad said there was "disbelief and devastation" among hotel workers, who now fear they could lose their jobs as the tourism industry falters. | BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad said there was "disbelief and devastation" among hotel workers, who now fear they could lose their jobs as the tourism industry falters. |
| Ruth Osborne, from High Wycombe, said there were just 34 guests in her hotel but "there should be 800". | Ruth Osborne, from High Wycombe, said there were just 34 guests in her hotel but "there should be 800". |
| "We now have the army outside our hotel, the port is surrounded," she said. | "We now have the army outside our hotel, the port is surrounded," she said. |
| Foreign tourism accounts for about 15% of Tunisian GDP and European Union foreign ministers are to discuss support for the country at a meeting next week. | Foreign tourism accounts for about 15% of Tunisian GDP and European Union foreign ministers are to discuss support for the country at a meeting next week. |
| Tunisia tourism | |
| Source: Tunisian national institute of statistics | |
| Tour operator Thomson and First Choice said it had no customers in Tunisia but was repatriating all British staff "within the next 24 hours". | Tour operator Thomson and First Choice said it had no customers in Tunisia but was repatriating all British staff "within the next 24 hours". |
| It had already cancelled all flights to the country to the end of the summer season (31 October) and said customers could change their holiday free of charge to any destination on sale. | It had already cancelled all flights to the country to the end of the summer season (31 October) and said customers could change their holiday free of charge to any destination on sale. |
| It is also offering additional flights from airports across the UK to destinations including the Balearic Islands, Spain and Cyprus. | It is also offering additional flights from airports across the UK to destinations including the Balearic Islands, Spain and Cyprus. |
| Thomas Cook, which has cancelled all bookings to Tunisia until 31 October, has two extra flights bringing customers back to the UK. | |
| And a spokesman added customers would be flown back "as soon as we can using third-party carriers and on our 10 scheduled flights over the weekend". | And a spokesman added customers would be flown back "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". | Meanwhile, Monarch Airlines said it was arranging to repatriate all customers in resorts back to the UK "as soon as possible". |
| The UK warning comes as the funeral of two victims of the attack - Jim and Anne McQuire, from Cumbernauld - took place in their home town. | |
| The British victims of the Sousse attack | The British victims of the Sousse attack |
| The Tunisian government has increased security in tourist areas, and announced plans for a wall along the border with Libya, to counter the terror threat. | The Tunisian government has increased security in tourist areas, and announced plans for a wall along the border with Libya, to counter the terror threat. |
| Tunisia believes the beach attack gunman, Seifeddine Rezgui, trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group in the neighbouring country, though the Islamic State group claimed the attack. | Tunisia believes the beach attack gunman, Seifeddine Rezgui, trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group in the neighbouring country, though the Islamic State group claimed the attack. |
| Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Rezgui, who was killed after the shooting spree. | Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Rezgui, who was killed after the shooting spree. |
| Background and analysis | Background and analysis |
| 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. |
| If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
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