Suspects arrested over Tunisian beach massacre

Tunisian authorities have arrested a group of suspects associated with the attacker who killed 30 people at a beach hotel near Sousse on Friday. Tunisian Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli did not give further details, other than that officials were still verifying whether the attacker had been trained in a Libyan jihadist camp.

“We have started by arresting a first group, a significant number of people, from the network that was behind this terrorist criminal.” Gharsallii told a press conferenc, referring to Seifeddine Rezgui, the Tunisian student who carrie out the attack.

He added that 1,000 extra armed police have been deployed to 692 Tunisian beaches, tourist sites and resorts.

Armed guards are being placed on duty inside hotels and reservists are being called up.

“Tunisia is fighting terrorism because it loves democracy and has chosen democracy,” Gharsalli said. “The terrorists are attacking the country because it is democratic. There was no terrorism when Tunisia was a dictatorship.”

“We are friends against one enemy,” the interior minister said, addressing his counterparts from the UK, Germany and France.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May described Friday’s attack as “a despicable act of cruelty”.

She said that she has heard the horror stories of survivors, but also stories of great bravery, such as of a young man who shielded his fiancée and of staff who protected guests.

“We are determined to fight against the ideology of terrorists,” she said. “We are united in wanting to defeat them and defend our values.”

At least 18 of the victims were British tourists, but May said that there is no evidence that British people were specifically targeted.