Tunisia fires top security officials after ISIL attack on museum

Special to WorldTribune.com

Tunisia’s prime minister fired his government’s top security officials after gunmen linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) struck at a Tunis museum, and killed 21, of which 20 were foreign tourists.

Tunisian's President Beji Caid Essebsi pays his respects to the victims of the terrorist attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunis, on March 22. / Ali Louati / AP
Tunisian’s President Beji Caid Essebsi pays his respects to the victims of the terrorist attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunis, on March 22. / Ali Louati / AP

The two attackers were identified by security officials as Tunisians in their 20s who had been trained in Libya. ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attack on the museum which sustained minimal damage to its archaeological treasures and reopened March 24.

Prime Minister Habib Essid made a late night visit to the scene of the attack and acted based on reports of security failures.

The gunmen, who died in a shootout with police, attacked tourists leaving their buses and stormed the museum without resistance.

Tunisia has been fighting Al Qaida units in mountainous areas near Algeria.

Lt. Col. Belhassen Oueslati, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said one soldier was killed and three others wounded when a mine blew up their vehicle in an area known to be a refuge for Al Qaida on March 22 near the Algerian border.

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