TUNISIA DENIES LOCAL VICTIMS WERE KILLED IN SOUSSE ATTACK

Tunis, 13 Ramadan 1436/30 June 2015 (MINA) – Tunisia’s prosecution authorities on Saturday denied media reports that victims of Friday’s militant attack in the western city of Sousse had included several Tunisian citizens, according to the country’s official news agency.

At least 39 people were killed on Friday – while roughly the same number were injured – when a gunman opened fire on foreign tourists on a popular beach in the seaside resort city.

On Saturday, Sufyan al-Sulaiti, a spokesman for Tunisia’s public prosecution authorities, told the Tunisian News Agency that no Tunisian citizens had been killed in the attack “contrary to what has been asserted by the media.” Middle East Monitor (Memo) reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

According to Tunisia’s interior minister, the attack was carried out by a student from the city of Kairouan, located roughly 60 kilometers west of Sousse.

The ISIS militant organisation, which currently controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the attack, according to statements posted by the group on social media.

The deadly assault came roughly three months after 21 foreign tourists were gunned down by militants in a museum in capital Tunis. (T/P002/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)