2015 Tunis bombing

2015 Tunis bombing
Part of ISIL insurgency in Tunisia
The incident location is marked by the red pin on Muhamed V Avenue just north of the city center
Location Tunis, Tunisia
Date 24 November 2015
Target Presidential escorts
Attack type
 Suicide bombing
Weapon Semtex explosive belt[1]
Deaths 14 (including the perpetrator)[2]
Non-fatal injuries
 16
Perpetrators Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

On 24 November 2015, a bus carrying Tunisian presidential guards exploded, killing 12, on a principal road in Tunis, Tunisia.[3][4] ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.[5][6] The bomber, who also died in the attack, was identified as Houssem Abdelli.[1]

Bombing

On 24 November 2015, at least 12 people were killed in a bus bombing in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The bus was carrying members of the Tunisian Presidential Security guard. The blast happened when the vehicle was parked near a main artery in the Tunisian capital where guard members are typically picked up and dropped off, according to an official in the Tunisian Prime Minister's office.[7]

The explosion, described as an "attack" by presidential spokesman Moez Sinaoui, struck on the capital's Mohamed V Avenue, a ministry official told AFP. An AFP journalist reported seeing the partly burnt out shell of the bus, with police, ambulances, and fire trucks at the scene.[8]

The bomber was identified as Houssem Abdelli, a 28-year-old resident of Tunis.[1][9] The man's mother identified him from a photograph.[9]

Response

The Tunisian Interior Ministry announced that this was an act of terrorism,[10] using a Semtex explosive traced to Libya.[11] The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement,[12] though authorities did not discuss any ties between the bomber and extremist groups.[1]

The group has also claimed responsibility for two attacks in Tunisia earlier in the year, targeting the tourism industry: the Bardo museum attack in March and an attack on a beach resort in Sousse in June.[13]

After the attack, President Beji Caid Essebsi placed Tunis under curfew and resumed a month-long state of emergency.[13] The Tunisian Interior Ministry reported that national security raids had led to the arrest of 40 people with suspected ties to terrorist groups.[9] Among the people arrested were the suspected bomber's sister and mother.[14] The Tunisian government's Security Council shut down Facebook accounts and websites linked to terrorist groups.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tunisia identifies bus suicide bomber as Tunisian national". Reuters.
  2. ↑ "State of emergency declared after 14 killed in Tunis bus attack". Middle East Eye. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Gandar, Kashmira (24 November 2015). "Tunisia bus explosion: Bomb kills 12 on Tunis bus in 'act of terror'". The Independent. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Amara, Tarek (24 November 2015). "Bombing of Tunisia presidential guard bus kills 12". Reuters. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Deadly Bus Attack in Tunis". The Wall Street Journal. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Islamic State claims responsibility for fatal Tunis bus attack". The Guardian. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Houda Zaghdoudi; Sara Sidner; Greg Botelho; Ed Payne (24 November 2015). "ISIS claims Tunisia bomb attack that killed 12". CNN. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bomb attack on Tunisia presidential guard bus kills at least 14". Yahoo News. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Houssem Abdelli named as principal suspect in terror attack". Tunisialive.
  10. ↑ "The Latest: Tunisian attack was 'terrorist act'; 12 dead". kltv.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Tunisia says suicide bomber carried out bus attack claimed by Islamic State". Reuters.
  12. ↑ "Tunisia blast: Islamic State says it carried out bus attack". BBC News. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  13. 1 2 Amara, Tarek. "Apparent suicide attack on Tunisian presidential guard bus kills 12". Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "Dozens arrested in Tunisian presidential guard bombing". CNN. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

Coordinates: 36°48′40″N 10°11′05″E / 36.8110°N 10.1846°E / 36.8110; 10.1846

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