Many of 38 victims in Tunisia beach resort massacre were British nationals: official
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 27 June, 2015, 10:11am
UPDATED : Saturday, 27 June, 2015, 10:11am
Agence France-Presse in Tunis
Rescuers carry the body of one victim after the attack at a beach resort in Sousse, Tunisia. Photo: Xinhua
Most of those killed in a massacre at a Tunisian beach resort claimed by the Islamic State group were British, the Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said on Saturday.
“The majority are British,” he told a news conference. “After come the Germans, then the Belgians and then other nationalities,” he said, adding that there were also French among the victims.
He also revised an earlier death toll given by the health ministry from 39 to 38. An official from the ministry said the previous figure had included the dead gunman who had attacked the popular beach resort of Port el Kantaoui.
Essid said reserve troops would be called up to reinforce security at “sensitive sites ... and places that could be targets of terrorist attacks” after the massacre, the second against tourists in Tunisia this year.
The “exceptional plan to better secure tourist and archaeological sites” will include “deploying armed tourist security officers all along the coast and inside hotels from 1 July,” he added.
The premier also announced that a national anti-terrorism congress would be held in September and that financial rewards would be given to anyone who comes forward with information leading to the capture of any terrorists.
