Britain warns against travel to Tunisia, holidaymakers head home

Britain on Thursday called for all United Kingdom tourists to leave Tunisia because an extremist attack is “highly likely”, saying the North African country hasn’t done enough to enhance security.

Thirty Britons were killed by an Islamist gunman in Tunisia on June 26, the worst loss of British lives in such an incident since bombings in London in July 2005.

Following a review of the security situation in Tunisia the Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel.

Tour operators Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice tonight cancelled all bookings to Tunisia up until October 31st.

Coaches carrying the holidaymakers are being given an armed military escort to Enfidha airport, which is itself heavily protected following the two attacks on tourists this year; in March the Bardo Museum in the capital, Tunis, was the scene of another massacre.

Independent travellers are being urged to make their own arrangements, which are likely to involve scheduled flights from Tunis airport.

Still, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond stressed that there was no indication of a “specific or imminent threat”.

Britain has advised its nationals in Tunisia to leave the country, warning local authorities could not provide “adequate protection” after last month’s beach massacre that left 30 Britons dead.

Finland on Friday also amended its travel recommendation for Tunisia to highlight “heightened risk for new terror attacks against tourists“.

About 20,000 British tourists were on package holidays in Tunisia at the time of the attack, reported by ABTA, the country’s largest travel association.

On its traveler’s advice Web site, France’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday renewed its recommendation for French nationals in Tunisia to be “particularly vigilant” in the wake of the Sousse attack.

Our Embassy in Madrid, which is accredited to Tunisia, will be notifying those Irish citizens who are resident in the country of the changes to the travel advice.

A total of 38 people were killed when Saif Rezgui opened fire on holidaymakers at the resort of Sousse two weeks ago.

Thousands of tourists are already being flown home, with extra flights being laid on. A ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment following the British Foreign Office statement.

A few holidaymakers have expressed anger that they were not advised against travelling to Tunisia sooner, while others have said they are disappointed to be forced to cut their trips short.