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Bardo National Museum attack

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2015 Tunis hostage crisis
Hostages were taken at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis
LocationTunis, Tunisia
Date18 March 2015
12:00[1]
TargetParliament of Tunisia,
Bardo National Museum
Attack type
Mass killing after hostage taking
WeaponsKalashnikov rifles and Hand grenades[2]
Deaths22(17 European tourists, 2 Tunisian citizens, 2 Columbian citizens)[3]
InjuredAt least 22

On 18 March 2015, gunmen attacked the Bardo National Museum in the capital city of Tunis, and held hostages.[3] 22 people, mostly European tourists, were killed in the attack, and at least 22 others were injured.[4] It is one of the worst attacks against civilians in Tunisia during peacetime.[citation needed] Police treated the event as a terrorist attack.[5]

Attack

Members of Parliament were discussing counter-terrorist legislation when they were ordered to evacuate the building due to the sound of gunfire.[6]

At the museum, seven foreign tourists, a Tunisian citizen, two perpetrators and one police officer were reported dead.[6] The tourists were attacked as they were getting off a bus to enter the complex's Bardo Museum. As the tourists ran toward the museum to avoid the shooting, the attackers pursued them.[7] The siege lasted three hours.[8] Three Polish citizens and two Italians were confirmed wounded by their respective embassies.[1]

State television reported earlier that 10 tourists were being held hostage by the gunmen, including Italians and Asians, but an Interior Ministry spokesman said all had been killed. As many as 15 people were said to have been injured in the attack.[9]

Tunisian security forces escorted dozens of tourists up nearby steps and away from the danger, as armed security forces pointed guns toward an adjacent building. Many tourists ran in panic to safety, including at least one couple carrying two children.[10]

Casualties

22 people were killed in the attack. 17 of the people killed were Italian, German, Polish (7 according to Radosław Sikorski), Colombian and Spanish tourists who were visiting the museum. The 2 other victims were Tunisian.[4]

Perpetrators

Two gunmen were killed at the scene, however it is not yet clear who the attackers were. Tunisia has been more stable than other countries in the region, but it has struggled with violence by armed groups in recent years, including some linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.[4] Additional reports state there may be 2 or 3 additional gunmen still on the loose. Twitter accounts associated with ISIL were described as overjoyed at the attack, urging Tunisians to "follow their brothers".[11]

Reactions

Domestic

Prime Minister Habib Essid chaired an emergency cabinet meeting, while President Beji Caid Essebsi announced via Facebook that he would address the nation later that day.[6] In his address, he called the attack a "huge disaster" and called for Tunisia to "enter a mobilisation phase" to prevent such an attack in the future.[12]

Anti-terrorism protests began in central Tunis after the attacks, with crowds reportedly chanting: "Tunisia is free, terrorism out."[12]

International

  •  European Union: EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attributed the attack to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), saying "With the attack that has struck Tunis today, the Daesh [Arabic acronym for ISIL] terrorist organisation is once again targeting the countries and peoples of the Mediterranean region. This strengthens our determination to cooperate more closely with our partners to confront the terrorist threat. The EU is determined to mobilise all the tools it has to fully support Tunisia in the fight against terrorism and reforming the security sector."[13]
  •  France: Prime Minister Manuel Valls said "We are condemning this terrorist attack in the strongest terms. We are standing by the Tunisian government. We are very alert about how the situation is evolving."[1]
  •  Italy: Prime Minister Matteo Renzi condemned the terrorist attack and said that this attack strikes the moderate Muslims and Italy is close to the Tunisian government.[14]
  •  Spain: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation condemned through a press release the atack: "The Spanish government condemns in the strongest terms this cowardly terrorist attack and reiterates its full solidarity with the Tunisian authorities."[15]
  •  United Kingdom: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned British tourists to avoid the vicinity of the Bardo Museum.[16]
  •  United States: The U.S. Embassy issued an emergency message for U.S. citizens.[17] US Secretary of State John Kerry said: "The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today's deadly terrorist attack at the National Bardo Museum in Tunis, where gunmen killed 19 people and wounded more than 20 others. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the victims' families and loved ones."[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gander, Kashmira (18 March 2015). "Tunisia shooting: 11 dead including two gunmen at Bardo Museum". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. ^ Robson, Steve (18 March 2015). "Tunisia Parliament attack". The Mirror. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b Tarek Amara. "Gunmen storm Tunisian museum, kill two Tunisians, 17 foreign tourists site". Reuters. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Tunisia ends deadly siege of museum". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. ^ Marszal, Andrew (18 March 2015). "Gunmen 'take hostages' in attack on Tunisia parliament". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "UPDATE 1: 8 dead, hostages taken in Tunisia parliament, museum attack". Ahram. Agence France-Presse. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Tunisia Parliament Attack Live Stream: Militants Dead, Victims' Nationalities Identified, 20 Hostages In Serious Condition [PHOTOS]". International Business Times. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  8. ^ Chris Stephen. "Tunis museum attack: 19 people killed after hostage drama at tourist site". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  9. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/world/africa/gunmen-attack-tunis-bardo-national-museum.html?_r=0
  10. ^ "Gunmen kill at least 20 at museum in Tunisian capital". msn.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Gunmen kill at least 20 at museum in Tunisian capital". Yahoo News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "As it happened: Tunisia attack – BBC News". bbc.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  13. ^ "EU's Mogherini blames Islamic State for Tunisia attack". Reuters. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Tunisia: premier Renzi condanna attacco". Ansa (in Italian). 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "España condena el atentado terrorista en Túnez" (in Spanish). Government of Spain. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Calder, Simon (18 March 2015). "Tunisia attack: Foreign Office urges British travellers to avoid Bardo Museum". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Information and Alerts for U.S. Citizens – Embassy of the United States Tunis, Tunisia". usembassy.gov. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
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