2015 Tunis bombing

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]

2015 Tunis bombing
Part of ISIL insurgency in Tunisia
Muhamed V Avenue
2015 Tunis bombing (Tunis)
2015 Tunis bombing (Tunisia)
LocationTunis, Tunisia
Date24 November 2015
TargetPresidential escorts
Attack type
Suicide bombing
WeaponSemtex explosive belt[1]
Deaths14 (including the perpetrator)[2]
Injured16
PerpetratorsIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant

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. "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. "Houssem Abdelli named as principal suspect in terror attack". Tunisialive. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  10. "The Latest: Tunisian attack was 'terrorist act'; 12 dead". kltv.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. 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. 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.

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