Tunisia warns of 'car bomb plot' in capital
Tunisian authorities warned of possible car bombings in the capital Tunis and banned traffic in parts of the city after receiving reports about potential attacks, news agency TAP reported.
2 min read
Tunisia has boosted security measures and made dozens of arrests after recent terror attacks [Anadolu/Getty]
On Sunday, the Tunisian state news agency TAP said Tunisian authorities are warning of possible car bombings in the capital Tunis.
Tunisia is in a state of emergency after two terrorist attacks on tourist sites this year, both claimed by the Islamic State group (IS).
Armed Islamists also often carry out attacks on the armed forces in remote areas in Tunisia but have not previously attempted mass killings with car bombs.
An Interior Ministry source, citing intellegience reports, told TAP that a potential assault involving car bombs and attackers with bomb belts had meant to target strategic points in the capital, without giving further details.
Orders have been given to intensify patrols and searches by the police and the army in certain parts of the capital and the suburban neighbourhoods, TAP said, citing the same source.
Authorities closed off access to the main Avenue Habib Bourguiba in the center of the city and several other main streets, the agency reported.
Four years after its uprising ousted Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and inspired the Arab Spring wave of uprisings, Tunisia has a new constitution and a coalition government with secular and Islamist parties.
But more than 3,000 Tunisians have left to fight for Islamist militant groups in Syria, Iraq and neighbouring Libya.
Some of those exremists have threatened to return home and carry out attacks on Tunisian soil.
In March, Islamist gunmen killed 21 tourists in an attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunis, and 38 foreigners were killed in an assault on a Sousse beach resort in June.
Tunisia is in a state of emergency after two terrorist attacks on tourist sites this year, both claimed by the Islamic State group (IS).
Armed Islamists also often carry out attacks on the armed forces in remote areas in Tunisia but have not previously attempted mass killings with car bombs.
An Interior Ministry source, citing intellegience reports, told TAP that a potential assault involving car bombs and attackers with bomb belts had meant to target strategic points in the capital, without giving further details.
 |
Authorities closed off access to the main avenue in the center of the city and several other main streets |
Orders have been given to intensify patrols and searches by the police and the army in certain parts of the capital and the suburban neighbourhoods, TAP said, citing the same source.
Authorities closed off access to the main Avenue Habib Bourguiba in the center of the city and several other main streets, the agency reported.
Four years after its uprising ousted Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and inspired the Arab Spring wave of uprisings, Tunisia has a new constitution and a coalition government with secular and Islamist parties.
But more than 3,000 Tunisians have left to fight for Islamist militant groups in Syria, Iraq and neighbouring Libya.
Some of those exremists have threatened to return home and carry out attacks on Tunisian soil.
In March, Islamist gunmen killed 21 tourists in an attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunis, and 38 foreigners were killed in an assault on a Sousse beach resort in June.
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
More In News
![Israeli forces ordered bombed Gaza's Jabalia, ordering residents to leave [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/2176418030.jpeg?h=a5f2f23a&itok=srmqckaL)
