Tunisia arrests 17 in jihadist hunt after deadly IS raid

[Valin]

AFP:

Mar. 8 2016

 

Tunisia arrested 17 suspects Tuesday in a manhunt for jihadists near the Libyan border after a deadly raid it described as an unprecedented assault by the Islamic State group. Analysts said Monday's coordinated attacks showed jihadists are keen to spread their influence from Libya to Tunisia and to set up a new stronghold in the country.

 

Prime Minister Habib Essid said about 50 extremists were believed to have taken part in the dawn attacks on an army barracks and police and National Guard posts in the border town of Ben Guerdane. He said 36 attackers were killed and seven captured in a fierce firefight that also saw the deaths of seven civilians and 12 security force personnel.

 

Defence ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati said 17 other suspects were arrested on Tuesday near a military barracks and handed over to the National Guard for questioning. Essid said the militants "murdered one internal security force member in his own home" and that three civilians and 14 security personnel were also wounded.

 

(Snip)