Pesident Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has strongly condemned the explosion on a bus carrying Tunisian presidential guards, stressing Egypt’s solidarity with Tunisia.
In an official press statement on Wednesday, the Egyptian presidency offered its condolences to the leadership, government and people of Tunisia regarding what it described as an “abhorrent attack”.
The Tunisian government is holding intensive meetings with the country’s Crisis Management Unit, including the defence, interior and foreign ministers, to discuss matters of national security in the wake of the attack, with outcomes expected soon, according to Tunisian media.
Al-Sisi renewed his unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, which indiscriminately claims innocent lives in all parts of the world. He reiterated his resolve to fight and eradicate terrorism through a comprehensive approach in the context of international efforts.
The blast, which took place on Tuesday evening, is believed to have killed at least 12 and injured 19, according to Agence Tunis Presse, which also reported that Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi had declared a nationwide state of emergency for a month. A curfew was imposed in the capital from 9pm to 5am.
The explosion took place in Mohamed V Avenue, the Turnisian Interior Ministry said, near the premises of the dissolved Constitutional Democratic Rally.
A suicide bomber “wearing a coat and earphones” is suspected of blowing himself up near the door of the bus, Reuters reported, quoting a presidential official named Mahdy Al-Maghraby’s statement to Shems FM radio.
Another local station reported a source from the Tunisian Ministry of Interior as saying that the bodies of 12 security guards had been identified, but a 13th “disfigured” body had arrived at the hospital later and was yet to be identified, according to Tunisia Plus website.
The ministry announced on Wednesday morning that the prime minister had called a meeting aimed at intensifying security measures in the country amid a “fierce battle against terrorism”.
