Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi in ‘critical condition’ after twin suicide attacks rock capital
- First attack targeted police patrol in Charles de Gaulle Street and soon after, second bomber blew himself up near police station in al-Gorjani district
Double suicide attacks shook Tunisia’s capital Thursday, even as the country was plunged into uncertainty with the hospitalisation of President Beji Caid Essebsi who was said to be in “critical condition”.
The violence revived fears for the stability of the North African state, which is seen as a rare democratic success story of the Arab spring uprisings but has been hit by repeated Islamist attacks.
Thursday’s blasts – one on a central avenue and another against a security base – killed a police officer and wounded at least eight people including several civilians, the interior ministry said.
An AFP correspondent saw body parts strewn in the road around a police car after the first attack, which took place on Habib Bourguiba, a central avenue near the old city.
The interior ministry said one policeman died from his wounds after that blast, while another policeman and three civilians were wounded.
