Twin Suicide Bombings Hit Tunisia as Terror Threat Reemerges
The attacks were the first in the capital in about eight months and ushered in yet more uncertainty in the nation.
(Bloomberg) -- Twin suicide bombers struck the Tunisian capital on Thursday, killing at least one security officer in attacks that rekindled fears of fresh unrest in the North African nation.
The first blast occurred near the French Embassy on Tunis’ Charles de Gaulle Street, while another shortly afterward struck near a building housing anti-terror police, the state-run TAP news agency reported. One person died and eight people were injured, Interior Ministry spokesman Sofiene Zaag said.
Authorities sealed off the streets leading to the areas and television footage showed a heavy security presence in the city center, with assault weapon-wielding police officers standing guard.
The attacks were the first in the capital in about eight months and ushered in yet more uncertainty in a nation that has prided itself on its democratic gains since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, but has struggled to revive the economy.
Tunisia in 2015 endured a spate of attacks targeting the vital tourism sector. While the assaults have abated, political bickering between rival parties, as well as frequent strikes by powerful unions, have combined to stunt recovery efforts.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jihen Laghmari in Cairo at jlaghmari@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tarek El-Tablawy at teltablawy@bloomberg.net, Michael Gunn, Paul Abelsky
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