Twelve people were killed, and another 20 injured, in a bombing in Tunis, Tunisia on November 24, in a bus carrying members of the Tunisian Presidential Guard, reports CNN.
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It condemned what it referred to as a “terrorist attack” against the Tunisian Presidential Guard bus, and which it said had left at least 12 people dead.
ISIL has claimed responsibility, in a statement released Wednesday, for a bombing on a bus that was carrying members of Tunisia’s presidential guard.
Ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the 13th body couldn’t be identified by fingerprints because no fingers were found. The ministry said a DNA analysis of the body is underway.
In response to the blast, The New York Times reported that the government has declared a state of emergency, which temporarily closed down the airport and tourist sites, and imposed a curfew as well.
In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Islamic State identified the bomber by the nickname Abu Abdullah Al Tunsi, or Abu Abdullah the Tunisian.
The vehicle blew up on Mohamed V Avenue, a major tree-lined street in the centre of the capital Tunis.
And in June, IS jihadis killed 38 people in the beach resort of Sousse.
Tunisia’s interior ministry revealed that a backpack or belt containing 10 kg of military explosives was used.
“Tunisia is targeted because it is a democracy and represents a model of moderate Islam”, the party said.
The blast was the third major attack by militants in Tunisia this year, and the first serious assault on the security forces in Tunis since militants began a campaign of violence in 2011.
Earlier this month, Tunisian authorities announced the dismantling of a cell it said had planned attacks at police stations and hotels in the seaside city of Sousse, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) southeast of Tunis.
One of the most secular Arab countries, Tunisia has enjoyed relative stability since its uprising compared with neighbours Libya and Egypt. It has a new constitution, held free elections and established compromise politics between secular and Islamist parties that has allowed some progress.
Tunisia will also close its border with Libya for 15 days, hire 6,000 more recruits for security forces and act to protect itself against Tunisians returning from conflict zones like Syria, the president’s office said.
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The emergency measures taken by Essebsi and his security team are aimed at preventing disruption to the JCC and further terror attacks that would potentially have dire consequences for the tourist industry and the cash-strapped economy, which can not sustain a prolonged war against terror.
