Explosion on Presidential Guard in Tunisia, state of emergency declared

Security and presidential sources said the explosion was an attack, adding it was not immediately clear whether it was a bomb or an explosive fired at the bus as it traveled along Mohamed V Avenue. It’s the third major attack in the country this year.

Tunisia is a democratic country with a model of moderate Islamic state.

The explosion occurred at a bus stop where the presidential guard picks up and drops off its staff, Al Jazeera informs. “We are at war and we are going to win”. A security source told AFP news agency that “most of the agents who were on the bus are dead”.

The exact cause of the explosion has not been identified yet, but reports suggest that a bomber detonated explosives in the vehicle. He said the explosion hit the driver’s side of the bus.

“Although we have had good cooperation from the Tunisian government, including putting in place additional security measures, the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, reinforcing our view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely”.

Essebsi cancelled a trip to Europe and said Tunis would be placed under curfew until Wednesday 5 a.m. (0400 GMT).

Mr Ben Ali was ousted in a popular uprising in 2011.

But fighting Islamist militants has become a major challenge for a country heavily reliant on tourism for its revenues.

But several thousand Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria, Iraq and Libya with Islamic State and other militant groups, and some have threatened to carry out attacks at home.

Earlier this month, Tunisian authorities announced the dismantling of a cell it said had planned attacks on police stations and hotels in the seaside city of Sousse, about 150 kilometers southeast of Tunis.