Link found between two terrorist attacks on tourists in Tunisia

Twenty-two people – mostly foreign tourists – were killed in a terrorist attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March this year.

Terror group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Sousse attack, in which 30 Britons were among 38 tourists killed.

Police think the Tunisia beach massacre that claimed a Bodmin man’s life could be linked to another terror attack.

Tunisian authorities have announced a total of 46 arrests over the museum massacre.

Those charged face allegations including being involved in a terrorist plot and providing logistical or other support.

No further evidence of the link found between the two attacks has been revealed by police at this stage.

Commander Richard Walton, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, confirmed that a team of British officers are working closely with the Tunisian authorities on both investigations and have advised the coroner of “the connection between the two”.

The Daily Mail said authorities in Tunisia have rounded up 150 people in connection with the Sousse attack, with 15 of them being slapped with terrorism charges.

One British woman was killed in the museum attack.

A number of witnesses had referred to a second gunman wearing red shorts.

Habib Essid said western intervention to bring down Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 in neighbouring Libya has made the country unstable and has left his nation more vulnerable to terrorism.

In Sousse a gunman, who was later identified as Tunisian student Seifeddine Rezgui, opened fire on the beach after coming in from the sea using a jet ski or speedboat.

A trial in relation to the murders is not expected to take place for up to 18 months.

Walton said that officers had so far taken 459 witness statements and were examining more than 370 photo and video files from mobile phones.

The killer’s body remains unclaimed by his family over fear of reprisals and due to shame, Walton said.