Attack in Tunis: the two attackers had already been sentenced for terrorism

Police at the scene of the attack on the US Embassy in Tunis on March 6, 2020. REUTERS / Zoubeir Souissi

Text by: RFI Follow

The attack, carried out by two attackers near the United States Embassy on Friday, March 6, which left one dead and five injured, reminds of the persistence of terrorist groups. The suicide bombers were from the suburbs of Tunis.

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With our correspondent in Tunis, Michel Picard

Only two hours after the explosion that targeted a police van in front of the American embassy, ​​the police were already conducting searches and wanted to make it known.

The first targeted city, Le Kram, a popular neighborhood by the sea, 5 km from the scene of the attack, where one of the terrorists is believed to have come from. Search for accomplices, search for clues, disclosure of the names of the suspects ... Even before the results of the DNA analyzes, the raids made it possible to carry out arrests of people arrested for terrorism.

Incarcerated for terrorism in 2014

The two young men presented as suicide bombers had been convicted and imprisoned for terrorism in 2014 and had completed their sentences. They were prohibited from leaving the territory.

For the moment no claim. Last June, the Islamic State organization was quick to take responsibility for the suicide attacks targeting the police in the capital. These attacks had not marred the tourist season. The country has just experienced an exceptional tourist year and intends to repeat the exercise in order to fight against a nagging economic crisis, a priority for the new executive.

This Friday, the head of state Kaïs Saied chaired the first Council of Ministers of the new government.

The question that arises is is it an isolated attack which is a little the exception which confirms the rule or is it the beginning of a campaign, it is not yet clear and it leaves a lot of people puzzled.

Youssef Cherif, director of the Columbia University center in Tunis

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  • Terrorism
  • Tunisia

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Tunisia: dead in suicide bombing attack on US embassy in Tunis