Tourists tried to escape from a Tunisian resort on Saturday, after an attack killed at least 38 people and wounded 39 others. In the city of Sousse, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on the beach by the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba.ISIS posted a photo of the alleged attacker.Tunisian authorities identified him as 24-year-old Saif Al-Deen Al Rezgui from the town of Gaafour, near Sousse. Al Rezgui lived in Gaafour until 2011 and later moved to the nearby region of Kairouan to go to college. Al Rezui was seen as an introvert who came from a poor family, police said. His younger brother died in 2010 when struck by lightning. The attack lasted about five minutes, starting on the beach, and continuing to the pool and in the hotel lobby. The gunman was killed in the hotel's parking lot.
Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said the gunman hid an AK-47 machine gun under an umbrella. "The nationalities of the killed, are mainly British, German, and French, this is the 95% of them," according to Prime Minister. One Belgian, a German and a woman from Ireland were also among the dead. Essid has announced a crackdown on what he called "illegal mosques"
which were "spreading rumors and poisons to encourage terrorism," he said Saturday "About 80 (mosques) will be closed ... within one week."
There has been another attack where a man caused an explosion at a chemical plant near Lyon in southeastern France after having beheaded his boss and leaving the head hanging on a fence. Authorities detained the suspect.
And ISIS claimed responsibility for an apparent bomb blast at the Shiite-affiliated Al-Sadiq mosque in Kuwait's capital during Friday prayers, leaving at least 27 dead and more than 200 wounded. British Prime Minister David Cameron, reacted as well.
"I am sickened by the attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait," Cameron tweeted. "Our countries stand together in combating the horrors of terrorism."
Pope Francis has sent telegrams to France, Kuwait, and Tunisia. The Holy Father said he was united in prayer with the relatives of the victims. He also prayed for the souls of those who perished in the attacks. Pope Francis offered his condolences to those who were wounded and to their families. In the messages, Pope Francis condemned yet again “the violence which causes so much suffering” and prayed that God “might grant the gift of peace.” He concluded his messages with “divine blessings” for the families of the victims and for the populations of the three countries.
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