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| Tunisia travel alert: Thousands of Britons to fly home | |
| (about 1 hour 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 an attack in Sousse last month - and the Foreign Office 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. |
| Tunisia has criticised the decision, with its ambassador to the UK saying it was "what the terrorists want". | Tunisia has criticised the decision, with its ambassador to the UK saying it was "what the terrorists want". |
| 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 said its members were aiming to bring customers home in the next 48 hours. | |
| The first Britons are expected to arrive back in the UK later. Some tourists waiting to leave Sousse spoke of their disappointment - and fears - over the fresh advice, saying they felt there was no option but to leave. | |
| Security 'chaos' | Security 'chaos' |
| A gunman killed 38 holidaymakers in the 26 June beach attack, prompting Tunisia to declare a state of emergency. | 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. | 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 the neighbouring country, though the Islamic State group has claimed the attack. | Tunisia believes gunman Seifeddine Rezgui trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group in the neighbouring country, 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. | 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". | 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 attacks. | 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 attacks. |
| He said a security assessment in tourist areas found more work was needed "to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat". | He said a security assessment in tourist areas found more work was needed "to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat". |
| But BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the gunman's associates were believed to still be at large in Tunisia and, he said, were quite likely to be looking for targets. | But BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the gunman's associates were believed to still be at large in Tunisia and, he said, were quite likely to be looking for targets. |
| He added that at the time of the attack some witnesses, including a former policeman, were convinced they saw a second attacker. | He added that at the time of the attack some witnesses, including a former policeman, were convinced they saw a second attacker. |
| He said the UK's decision was taken "reluctantly" but the intelligence of a threat was "overwhelming". | He said the UK's decision was taken "reluctantly" but the intelligence of a threat was "overwhelming". |
| Michelle Ayres, who is among those waiting to leave Sousse later, said tourists were disappointed at having to return home "but they haven't got an option". | |
| She said: "We actually feel we'd be safer in the hotel than leaving it at the moment. We're worried not about getting to the airport. Everybody's thinking 'What's going to happen? Is there a threat to us?' and that's why they're getting us out. | |
| "The people who came in two days ago had armed police chaperone their buses... We didn't have that when we arrived here so something has obviously changed." | |
| 'Disbelief and devastation' | |
| 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, 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. | |
| BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad, in the capital, Tunis, said there was "disbelief and devastation" among hotel workers over the UK-issued alert, who now fear they could lose their jobs as the tourism industry falters. | |
| Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said: "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." | Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said: "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." |
| Tour operators Thomson and First Choice had already cancelled all flights to the country for the rest of the summer season. | 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 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. | 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. |
| A 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. |
| The British victims of the Sousse attack | |
| 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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