Tunisia Declares State of Emergency After Bombing Leaves 12 Dead
The country of Tunisia is under a state of emergency with a curfew imposed on its capital city after at least 12 people were killed during an afternoon bombing that appeared to target a bus carrying members of the presidential guard.
The bombing occurred sometime around 6 p.m. on Mohamed V Avenue, a tree-lined boulevard in the capital city of Tunis, where security was already reportedly on high alert. Notes the AP:
The blast came 10 days after authorities increased the security level in the capital and deployed security forces in unusually high numbers, and after the country’s toiurism industry has been hit hard this year following extremist attacks.
The Tunisian Interior Ministry tells the AP at least 12 people were killed and another 16 wounded in the blast. According to Reuters, the presidential guards were boarding the bus when the bomb exploded. A “presidential source” tells the outlet “it was likely that a bomber had detonated his explosive belt inside.”
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi declared a 30 day state of emergency shortly after the attack, calling the bombing a “terrorist act.”
