Tunisian Prime Minister Habid Essid says the death toll from clashes between Tunisian forces and extremist attackers near the Libyan border has risen to 55, including 36 attackers.
Essid says seven civilians and 12 members of Tunisia’s security forces also died, and 17 others were injured.
No group claimed immediate responsibility for Monday’s attack in the city of Ben Guerdane. Essid told a press conference on Tuesday that about 50 gunmen — most of them Tunisians — took part to the attack.
Essid says the gunmen targeted a police station and military facilities in Ben Guerdane after launching their attack from a nearby mosque. He adds that seven attackers were arrested and gave information that led to the discovery of a weapons cache.
