Police link Tunis and Sousse terrorist attacks

Investigators have established links between two terrorist attacks that killed 59 foreign tourists on a beach and at a museum in Tunisia, British police said this week.

"The attack at the Bardo museum, which left 22 dead, including one British woman, is now being linked to the Sousse murders," said Commander Richard Walton, head of counter-terrorism for London's Metropolitan Police.

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the museum attack in Tunis in March and for the attack by a gunman in the popular holiday resort of Sousse in June, during which 38 foreign tourists died. Tunisia declared a state of emergency and launched a crackdown on militants following the Sousse attack.

"The Tunisian authorities have deployed significant resources into this investigation and have carried out operations across the country to disrupt terrorist activity and identify suspects in relation to the Sousse attack," Walton said. "I understand in all around 150 people have been arrested, of which 15 have been charged with terrorist-related offences and remanded in custody while the investigation continues," he said.    (dpa)

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