Travel Agent: Images of 9/11, London Bombings Used to Promote Tunisia Tourism

Jendoubi said over 1,000 suspects have been detained in Tunisia in a terror clampdown since March’s deadly attack on the Bardo National Museum here claimed by the Islamic State militant group.

The Foreign Office said it is advising against all but essential travel to the North African country.

“The Tunisian authorities have increased their security measures but have also acknowledged the limitations in their ability to counter the current terrorist threat”, the Foreign Office said.

Tunisia’s government said it will build a wall along its border with Libya to prevent the infiltration of Islamist fighters following a beach front attack that killed 38 tourists.

Even though no official United Kingdom travel warning for the resorts has been issued, travel companies including Thomson and First Choice have flown back nearly 6,000 tourists from Tunisia on 40 flights over last week.

The creator of the campaign, Selim Ben Hadj Yahia, who works for PR firm Ramdam.in, reportedly said he posted the images on Facebook in the hope they spoke to “Tunisia’s friends around the world” in “the shock and sadness” of the Sousse attack.

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

Travelling to Tunisia now would be likely to invalidate travel insurance policies, but most policies would provide cover for those now in the country, it added. However, the country is currently torn between two rival governments battling for control, while numerous militias, many whom are tied to al Qaeda or ISIS, are emerging strong amid the chaos.

“Due to the terrorism risk, and the regional context, and spread of terrorism, we have declared a state of emergency”, Essebsi said in a televised address.

In a nationwide televised address, the president officially reintroduced urgent security measures for Tunisia that had been lifted in early 2014.

“You should be especially vigilant at this time and follow the advice of the Tunisian security authorities and your tour operator, if you have one”.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said all of its travellers are out of Tunisia and that it has no plans to return there this season.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is “urgently reviewing its travel advice in consultation with the appropriate agencies”. Two Germans were killed in the Sousse attack. A ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment following the British statement.