UK tourists leave Tunisia amid threat

The first of thousands of British tourists are due to return home from Tunisia after a warning that another terror attack is “highly likely”.

Thirty Britons were killed in an attack in Sousse last month – and the Foreign Office is urging Britons to leave.

Some tourists waiting to leave the country said they felt disappointed – and afraid – after the warning, adding they saw no option but to leave.

Tunisia criticised the UK’s advice, saying it was “what terrorists want”.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 British package holidaymakers are believed to be in Tunisia, as well as about 500 independent travellers.

The Association of British Travel Agents said its members were aiming to bring customers home in the next 48 hours.

Michelle Ayres, who is among those waiting to leave Sousse, said: “Everyone’s disappointed here – and I speak for many people… but obviously they haven’t got an option.

“We actually feel we’d be safer in the hotel than leaving it at the moment. We’re worried not about getting to the airport. Everybody’s thinking ‘What’s going to happen? Is there a threat to us?’ and that’s why they’re getting us out.

“The people who came in two days ago had armed police chaperone their buses… We didn’t have that when we arrived here so something has obviously changed.”

Security ‘chaos’

A gunman killed 38 holidaymakers in the 26 June beach attack, prompting Tunisia to declare a state of emergency and increase security at tourist sites.

The UK government said there was no new “specific or imminent” threat but intelligence had led officials to the view that a further terrorist attack was “highly likely”.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Tunisian investigation into the Sousse attack – and an attack in March on the Bardo Museum near Tunis which left 22 dead, including one Briton – was continuing and Tunisian authorities had “made clear they want to track down further individuals who they suspect may have links” to the attacks.

He said a security assessment in tourist areas found more work was needed “to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat”. BBC