TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia’s prime minister has fired five leading security officials after three gunmen attacked a renowned Tunis museum, killing 21 in the deadliest attack on tourists in Tunisia in 13 years, the government said Monday.
The ousted officials include the director of Tunisia’s tourist police and the police chief for the neighborhood around the National Bardo Museum, government spokesman Mufdi Mseddi told The Associated Press.
The decision was made after the prime minister visited the neighborhood of the attack and noted security problems, the spokesman said. President Beji Caid Essebsi had also criticized security failings around last week’s attack. The gunmen opened fire on tourists getting out of buses and then entered the museum, apparently unimpeded, and fired on more tourists inside. Two gunmen were killed in a shootout with police.
The Interior Ministry has identified a man suspected of coordinating the attack and posted two photos of him on its Facebook page.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for attacking the museum - a trove of Roman mosaics and Tunisia’s leading historical museum.
Police identified the two dead attackers as Tunisians in their 20s who had trained in Libya. Several well-armed groups in neighboring and chaotic Libya have pledged allegiance to IS.
Tunisia is also fighting extremists claiming allegiance to al Qaeda in its western mountains, near Algeria. A Tunisian defense official said Monday one soldier was killed and three others wounded when a mine blew up their vehicle in an area known to be a refuge for al Qaeda-linked Islamic radicals.
Lt. Col. Belhassen Oueslati, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said the incident occurred Sunday near the Algerian border. Al Qaeda-linked radicals have staged attacks against army and politicians in the area for the past two years.
The Bardo museum plans to reopen to the public Tuesday, with a special ceremony including guest artists. Museum officials have said that no major archaeological treasures suffered damage and the museum needs only minimal repairs.
Tunisia also plans a national march against terrorism Sunday, and is inviting world leaders to join.
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