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Updated at 6.09pm
A TUNISIAN OFFICIAL has confirmed that 17 tourists and two Tunisians were killed in a shooting attack at a popular museum today.
Polish, Italian, German and Spanish tourists were among the dead, Prime Minister Habib Essid said, adding that two gunmen had been killed.
A Tunisian national and a policeman were also reported dead.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin has told TheJournal.ie that the Irish Embassy in Madrid and Honorary Consul in Tunis are monitoring the situation and providing updates to them.
“We are currently not aware of any Irish citizens involved in the incident at this time,” they said in a statement.
Shooting
Essid said the gunmen, dressed in military uniforms, opened fire on the tourists as they were disembarking from a bus and chased them inside the museum.
Health Minister Said Aidi told reporters that 38 others had been wounded in the attack, including citizens of France, South Africa, Poland, Italy and Japan.
The attack appeared to be the worst on foreigners in Tunisia since an Al-Qaeda suicide bombing on a synagogue killed 14 Germans, two French and five Tunisians on the island of Djerba in 2002.
Some officials, including French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, had said hostages were taken at the museum but this was not confirmed by Tunisian authorities.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Tunisia – the birthplace of the Arab Spring revolutionary movement – has struggled to tackle a rise in attacks from Islamist extremists.
Interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told reporters that “two or more terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs” had targeted the Bardo National Museum next to the Tunisian parliament.
Aroui said about 100 tourists had been inside the museum at the time of the attack.
He said “anti-terrorist units” had entered the museum but refused to confirm reports of a hostage taking.
The Bardo National Museum, a famed repository of ancient artefacts, is next door to Tunisia’s parliament, where work was suspended during the attack.
An Islamist lawmaker, Monia Brahim, told AFP that gunfire from the initial assault prompted parliamentary committees to suspend their meetings as lawmakers were ordered to assemble in the main chamber.
“There was enormous panic,” another lawmaker, Sayida Ounissi, wrote on Twitter, saying the attack took place during hearings on Tunisia’s anti-terrorism law.
Tunisia has seen an upsurge in Islamist extremism since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Dozens of police and military personnel have been killed or wounded in attacks blamed on Islamist militants.
Condemned
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan described today’s incident as a “vicious mass killing”.
“This attack is a deliberate attempt to undermine Tunisia’s achievements since 2011 in delivering a democratic State, which reflects the aspirations and rights of all its citizens,” he added in a statement offering his sympathies to the people of Tunisia.
Includes reporting from Associated Press.
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Shower of murdering bxxtards targeting innocent tourists like that.
Now, now Castalla, not fair, according to Islam these are non-believers and thus the cortrect term is kuffar – your basic dehumanised cattle. You’re a tad on the racist side. And eh, report to your local racism-police station for summary multicultural re-education.
This is hardly surprising when you look at the numbers of fighters supporting IS, Tunisia has the second highest number of fighters in Syria, Jordan is leading way with the most so don’t be surprised if we hear of the same kind of attacks in Jordan.
When these loonies return from fighting alongside IS they bring the worst of what they learned with them.
It must be great to have God on your side no matter what you do
‘Allah’ is NOT the ‘God’ of Christianity/Judaism.
Allah is an ancient pagan moon-god, – one of 365 which were housed in the kabba.
Allah is the word for God in Arabic, it’s the same Abrahamic god as followed by Christianity/Judaism.
No Dave, – you are completely wrong.
‘illah’ is the Arabic word for ‘a god’
‘Allah’ the name of just one specific ‘god’ whose origins are from a pagan Arabia.
Please stop repeating this blatant lie about the Allah of Islam & the God of Christianity/Judaism being the same, – you are spreading ‘disinformation’
Does it matter? None of these gods are real.
Well, that’s ok then. As long as no Irish are hurt. FFS!!!
Absolutely not OK. Shame on you.
Not great with the sarcasm I see.
Likewise..
If you had a friend or relative in the region you’d be in a panic wanting to know this kind of thing or contact them. Good at sarcasm perhaps, but not as worldly as you might think.
Agreed Philip.
Went on a holiday there in 2006 and will never go back
Took a tour and the guide told us “we accept westeran tourists only because we need the money”
In a shop when we were leaving after buying nothing the shop keeper said ” our day will come”
Galway, I don’t doubt what you wrote and I have had overzealous shopkeepers behave in an aggressive manner when I didn’t buy from their shop but they were few and far between, most shopkeepers were friendly and didn’t make a fuss when I didn’t purchase anything but there is always the one who will let the others down. As for the tour guide, I’m sure he is also in the minority and gives others a bad name because of his awful attitude, my experience of Tunisia was completely different in that I had Tunisian families invite me into their homes and couldn’t do enough for me in that they were happy to cook for me and even offer themselves as guides totally without expectation of anything in return. Please do not tar a whole nation because of the bad attitude of a small few.
Anyway, I’m sure their tourism industry will be non existent after this debacle which is a shame.
Was there years ago long before IS and the other maniacs ,but still a bit edgy.Now I would not go to any of these countries,they are basically medieval and anti western,now I wouldn’t trust any of them ,even here in Dublin I don’t like all these veils and head gear
Tourist Attack? Yikes, cancelling my holidays straight away if that kind of thing is going on.
Very sad news. I don’t usually comment but I have to say I’m fed up of headlines being phrased like this – these people had families and friends from whom they have now sadly and suddenly been taken away. These people, their friends and their family feel pain no different to ourselves or any other nationality.
I understand that this is an Irish news site and thejournal are thinking of those readers who might have someone currently in Tunisia, but why state it so bluntly and coldly? One click into the article and you could list the nationalities of those who lost their lives today. Headlines like this are just spreading an “us and them” attitude which is certainly not going to help any of the world’s problems.
Here we go again.
Another country I will never holiday in !!
Tunisia is a beautiful and fascinating country and, in my experience, the people are generally very nice.. The Bardo is home to the most spectacular collection of Roman era mosaics and Carthaginian artefacts. This is a real tragedy for them.
You are right Joe, Tunisia which is one of the most liberal countries in ME has always been a warm and welcoming place to go for winter sunshine. The people are friendly and hospitable and their country is stunningly beautiful, they can now wave bye bye to their biggest source of income all because of these IS loons.
Joe Tunisia is beautiful as long as you’re not dead. So thanks but thanks ill stick with Santa Ponsa!
I will never holiday in a Muslim dominated country.
Likewise London (13.1% Muslim),
Birmingham (26.9% Muslim),
Manchester (15.8% Muslim),
Brussels (25.5% Muslim),
Antwerp (16.9%),
Amsterdam (24%),
Paris (10-15%),
Marseille (35%),
Cologne (12%),
Frankfurt (11.8%),
Rotterdam (25%),
Stockholm (20%),
Malmo (20%)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_European_Union_by_Muslim_population#cite_note-8
Sure there is a chance you could get jihadied by Muslims anywhere you go, but you can decrease your chances significantly by avoiding places with large Muslim populations.
Do you even know any Muslim? Just because you list statistics doesn’t mean you are being clever.
I’m not listing statistics. I’m listing EU cities next to percentage of the population which are Muslim.
I think you need to look at a definition of statistics.
Assume you’re all happy to holiday in New York, Madrid and London though yeah?
It’s now over and all the pond-life attackers are reportedly are dead
The only way to stop them is to stop supporting the Saudi’s and Qatari’s who are the main source of finance and weapons to these lowlifes
Tunisia did the right thing. Mobilise, get a plan of action, hit them hard and hit them quick. No pussyfooting around.
not all 19 are tourists that died , even tunisian citizens were also targeted
Mention of 8 people dead – 1 Tunisian, 7 tourists.
Sadly, we’re now looking at at least 19 dead with reports of 3 attackers on the loose.
they are doing their best to capture them , its pretty severe now
I have a rule of thumb when it comes to holidays, anywhere where people wear tea towels on their heads is a no go zone. Simples.
Santa Ponsa has a load of Brits with hankies on their head, does that count???
Hope this ends well.
Other sources I read report 22 killed. I will never go for holidays to Muslim country (Egypt was tempting but thanks).
@Unfortunately, I’ve been to Morocco many times and Istanbul last year. Lovely places, really.
May god have mercy on their souls
What God and whose souls?
Deploy ground troops and destroy ISIS before it’s to late.
http://www.sgoal.org/Western-countries-should-deploy-military-troops-for-ground-operations-in-Iraq-and-Syria-to-effectively-distroy-ISIS
Deploying ground troops will act as a recruitment tool. Their whole act is that they want to bring about “the final battle” and begin the end of the world. Literally that is their goal, to fulfill this prophecy.
If American soldiers go their it will be like it coming true, galvanize them and give legitimacy to what they’re saying.
If what they say doesn’t come true they will be weakened.
Add to the mix the fact that these kind of groups can’t be defeated by legitimate military means as they are hell bent on destroying society rather than ruling them.
Look up “what ISIS want” by the Atlantic magazine. It’s a really good analysis of the group and why bombing them from a distance is the least worst option
Better to identify sources and starve funding. In the 21st century western ground troops are just targets for irregular forces. Use of drones is probably more demoralising with limited use of special forces.
They have deployed ground troops Meghan, they are training ISIS in the hope of toppling Israeli bogeyman Assad.
No Irish hurt, as the rest of them don’t matter. Clearly! Great Title. Not
Rest in peace a
Deepest condolences to all their families. Not safe in France not safe in UK. Why are people still travelling to those countries.
The thing about ISIS’s successes in recruitment compared to all previous Islamic terrorist groups is that they are much more internet savvy. They are using social media to reach a mass audience of muslims all over the world that was not as available to previous groups.
Hopefully the revolutionaries can restore Sharia to the region. The AAA, PBP and Socialists Party are with our brothers in solidarity
#revoltuion #jesusisderek #oppression
This isn’t the time or place for a party political netcast.
Your ‘brothers’ would swipe you’re head off and use your daughter as a toy
@Sutt S. And so also the Qatar-based Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar-based Al-Jazeera who helped bring Sharia to Tunisia before and still trying.
Qatar who supports ISIS and now building the Megamosque/ Megafort in Clongriffin, Dublin,Ireland. When are Irish people going to wake up!
See below
—”It was Al-Jazeera that created the “Arab Spring” by twisting a story about a Tunisian fruit-seller, who set himself on fire because he could not get a work permit, into a story of Tunisian oppression. The station ran the story again and again, whipping up Tunisians to overthrow their secular leaders and bring in Islamist leaders. To the Tunisians’ credit, like the Egyptians, after a few years of Islamist rule, they also threw the Islamist leaders out.
Recently, Al-Jazeera has been broadcasting a “documentary” series glorifying Hamas and the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, its military-terrorist wing. The entire series is devoted to idealizing Islamist terrorism and encouraging mass-casualty terrorist attacks against Jews, in the name of radical Islamist ideology.”
Good idea. Spot on.
PBP and far-left extremists?
Are these the politicians of peace who support a muslim brotherhood aligned mosque, who support the oppression of women in preference for a misogynistic religion of islam and who use the bullying Black and Tan tactics to forbid peaceful meetings of new pro Irish sovereignty party like Identity Ireland?
Dirty towel heads should b blown to bits I reckon…Simples!!
Ah Spring has truly arrived.
Good old religion of peace, reports that 7 tourists have been killed on Al Jazeera.
@ William Boyd
Don’t ever forget that 99% of the victims of Islamic extremists are Muslims and that 99% of the people fighting Islamic extremists are Muslims.
Creating a false impression that ISIS represents ordinary Muslims helps nobody except ISIS
The phrase, “religion of peace,” forms part of the collective conscious by way of its sarcistic use by popular polemic websites, such as TheReligionofPeace.com, which is a counter-Islam site serving as a clearinghouse of anti-Islam arguments and propaganda.
The use of “religion of peace” by mainstream Sunni and Shia groups is almost unheard of , therefore, arguments discussing Islam as a “religion of peace” are inherently intellectually dishonest by way of the phrase not being claimed by either dominant sects.
Islam does not describe itself as “the religion of peace.” The phrase has its origins in a speech delivered by the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad, to explain his confusion over the motives of the 9/11 terrorists. The phrase was later repeated by George W. Bush in another post-9/11 speech.
Use of the phrase forms part of the larger right-wing counter-Islam discourse for which the phrase is most often used.
The catchphrase, “religion of peace” as it is often used in debates surrounding Islam, represents a false dilemma for which no meaningful debate can occur.
Well lets call it “Islam”, I’m effing sick of this sick religion. most atrocities happening in our world today has the word “Islam”. I suppose its all in our imagination?????????????
@Red M. It,Islam, should be called for what it is “The Religion of Hate”. over 60% of its Sacred Trilogy of Koran,Hadith and Sira spew out hatred for all non-muslims or to use their highly derogatory term ‘kaffirs’.
Islam means ‘submission’- to Mohammed’s god Allah,- and when all non-muslims are converted (or killed) there will be ‘Peace’ Muslims believe. Hence the legitimate satirical use of the “Religion of Peace”
I prefer the more descriptive ‘Religion of Hate’ for this is what it mostly produces.
What’s your religion Patrick because you seem to have a lot of hate yourself?
You read any holy book and it’ll be full of monstrous atrocities.
Imagine if America had a civil war and government control collapsed. I could easily imagine a bloddy Christian group armed to the teeth trying to create a Christian theocracy where gay people are stoned to death etc.
Yes Diarmaid quite right, bloody Christian beheaders and burqa pushing bst*ds. Come on let’s leave this oppressive west and join our brothers in Islam, ISIS is where’s it at dude, are ya with me?
The following States have provided numbers or estimates of their citizens or residents who
have gone to Syria to fight, though some have now returned or died.
!
Algeria: about 200 (Official estimate, May 2014, plus up to 200 helpers)
Australia: about 250 (ASIS, April 2014)
Belgium: about 250 (Official figure, April 2014, 200 still in Syria)
Canada: 30 (CSIS, February 2014)
Denmark: 100 (PET, May 2014)
Finland: over 30 (Supo, March 2014)
France: over 700 (Official figure, April 2014, 275 still in Syria)
Germany: 270 (BfV, January 2014, ‘about 300’ March 2014)
Indonesia: 30 – 60 (Official estimate, May 2014)
Ireland : 25 – 30 (Ministry of Justice, February 2014)
Kosovo: 100 – 120 (OSCE report, March 2014)
Kyrgyzstan: several (10+) (Krygyz Security Service, May 2013)
Morocco: about 1,500 (Official figure, April 2014)
The Netherlands: 120 (Ministry of Justice, February 2014)
Norway: 40 – 50 (NIS, February 2014)
Russian Federation: over 800 (FSB, April 2014)
Saudi Arabia: about 2,500 (Official estimate, May 2014; 1,200 MoI)
Singapore: one (Official figure, March 2014)
Spain: 51 (Official figure, April 2014)
Sweden: about 30 (Säpo, April 2013)
Switzerland: about 10 (Swiss Intelligence Service, May 2013)
Tunisia: about 3,000 (Official figure, April 2014)
Turkey: about 400 (Official estimate, April 2014)
United Kingdom: about 400 (Official estimate, March 2014)
United States: dozens (70+) (FBI, May 2014)
!
Must be those damned atheists again.
The Irish are generally in the pub around the corner.
And in Spain the Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was at a bullfight and waited until it was finished before doing anything, the excuse was that they did not think there were any Spanish nationals among the dead or hostages. Now the foreign affairs minister is on the telly saying that they will fly out the children of the deceased in a government jet to identify the corpses and that they have expert psychiatrists on stand by to help them, if this wasn’t an election year it would be sorry and that’s life.
have your say