Washington, March 19 – European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini blamed Islamic State on Wednesday for an attack on tourists in Tunisia that killed 19 people, including 17 foreign tourists.
“With the attack that has struck Tunis today, the Daesh terrorist organisation is once again targeting the countries and peoples of the Mediterranean region,” she said in a statement, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
“This strengthens our determination to cooperate more closely with our partners to confront the terrorist threat,” she said. “The EU is determined to mobilise all the tools it has to fully support Tunisia in the fight against terrorism and reforming the security sector.”
US condemns attack at museum in Tunis, backs government:
The United States condemns Wednesday’s attack at Tunisia’s national museum, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement. “The United States stands with the Tunisian people at this difficult time and continues to support the Tunisian government’s efforts to advance a secure, prosperous, and democratic Tunisia,” he said.
Tunisia premier says 19 killed in museum attack, including 17 foreigners:
At least 19 people were killed, including 17 foreign tourists, when militants attacked Tunisia’s Bardo museum in the capital Tunis, Prime Minister Habib Essid said on Wednesday. A Tunisian citizen and a policeman also died in the attack, Essid said.
Japan says 3 citizens killed in Tunisia attack, not 5:
Three Japanese citizens were killed in an attack on Tunisia’s national museum and not five as Tunisia said, Japanese government officials said on Thursday. Earlier, Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said five Japanese were among 19 people killed when gunman wearing military uniforms stormed the museum on Wednesday.
But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the report that five Japanese people had been killed was not correct and a foreign ministry spokesman said the government confirmed three Japanese were killed and three wounded. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said earlier Japan strongly condemned terrorism and the government was gathering information about the attack in Tunisia.
‘2 French citizens killed in Tunisia attack’:
Two French nationals were killed in the attack on a Tunisia’s national museum on Wednesday, according to a French diplomatic source. Five Japanese as well as visitors from Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain were among the 17 dead in the noon assault on Bardo museum inside the heavily guarded parliament compound in central Tunis.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said earlier that six French nationals were injured in the attack, including three seriously. “A second French citizen who was seriously injured has died,” said the person.
-INDIA TODAY
