ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Tunisia boosts security, arms tourist cops

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Jun 2015, 10:52AM

Tunisia boosts security, arms tourist cops

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Jun 2015, 10:52AM

Tunisia says it will arm tourism police and deploy hundreds of reinforcements as authorities move to boost security after a jihadist gunned down 38 people at a seaside resort.

Police on horseback and quad bikes on Sunday patrolled the beach at Port El Kantaoui north of Sousse where the worst jihadist attack in Tunisia's history took place on Friday.

Tourists gathered around bouquets of flowers laid in the sand.

In Tunis, the tourism ministry confirmed plans to deploy 1000 armed officers from July 1 to reinforce the tourism police, who will now also carry guns for the first time.

The move came as leaders of the North African country scrambled to act after the brutal attack dealt a heavy blow to the vital tourism industry.

Armed officers will be deployed "inside and outside hotels", on beaches and at tourist and archaeological sites, the ministry said.

Friday's attack saw a Tunisian student disguised as a tourist pull out a Kalashnikov assault rifle hidden inside a beach umbrella and open fire on holidaymakers at the Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Port el Kantaoui south of the capital Tunis.

Malek, a 16-year-old witness, said he saw the gunman unleash the killing spree.

"I saw the guy put his parasol down in the sand, squatting just like anyone would to set it up. But suddenly he grabbed a Kalashnikov," he said.

"Everyone stood up to see what was happening, and then we saw him shoot at the tourists, with a big smile on his face."

Witnesses say the attack lasted more than 40 minutes, but interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui has refused to comment on allegations that police were slow to react.

Aroui told AFP the police arrived "seven to eight minutes" after the shooting began, adding that he is awaiting the results of an inquiry.

"One person alone committed the attack but others helped him for sure," said Aroui.
The gunman's family has been interrogated by police.

Tunisian authorities have so far identified 18 of those killed as 14 Britons, a German, a Belgian, a woman from Ireland and another from Portugal.

But Britain has said at least 15 of its citizens were confirmed dead and warned that the toll is likely to rise.

Ireland also said on Sunday three of its citizens were killed.

The attack was swiftly claimed by the Islamic State group, the extremist organisation that has seized large parts of Syria and Iraq and launched attacks around the world.

It came just three months after another IS-claimed attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis killed 21 tourists and a policeman.

With its turquoise waters, stunning archaeological sites and relatively low prices, Tunisia has long attracted European tourists.

But the industry - which accounts for seven per cent of GDP and almost 400,000 jobs - has been reeling since the 2011 revolution that ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was followed by a rise in jihadist violence.

Disillusionment and social exclusion have fuelled radicalism among young Tunisians, with the country exporting some 3,000 jihadist fighters to Iraq, Syria and neighbouring Libya.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you