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
- 2014 Chaambi Mountains attack
- 2015 Sousse attacks
- Bardo National Museum attack
- Ghriba synagogue bombing
References
- ^ a b c d "Tunisia identifies bus suicide bomber as Tunisian national". Reuters.
- ^ "State of emergency declared after 14 killed in Tunis bus attack". Middle East Eye. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Gandar, Kashmira (24 November 2015). "Tunisia bus explosion: Bomb kills 12 on Tunis bus in 'act of terror'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Amara, Tarek (24 November 2015). "Bombing of Tunisia presidential guard bus kills 12". Reuters. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ "Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Deadly Bus Attack in Tunis". The Wall Street Journal. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "Islamic State claims responsibility for fatal Tunis bus attack". The Guardian. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ Houda Zaghdoudi; Sara Sidner; Greg Botelho; Ed Payne (24 November 2015). "ISIS claims Tunisia bomb attack that killed 12". CNN. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ "Bomb attack on Tunisia presidential guard bus kills at least 14". Yahoo News. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Houssem Abdelli named as principal suspect in terror attack". Tunisialive. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "The Latest: Tunisian attack was 'terrorist act'; 12 dead". kltv.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ "Tunisia says suicide bomber carried out bus attack claimed by Islamic State". Reuters.
- ^ "Tunisia blast: Islamic State says it carried out bus attack". BBC News. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ a b Amara, Tarek. "Apparent suicide attack on Tunisian presidential guard bus kills 12". Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Dozens arrested in Tunisian presidential guard bombing". CNN. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.