Tunisian PM fires six security chiefs after ISIS attack

Following the attack on Tunisian Bardo Museum last week, Tunisia prime minister, Habib Essid, has sacked six police commanders over several security lapses.

According to Reuters, Mofdi Mssedi, the minister’s spokesman, who made the revelation, said the six sacked officers include intelligence brigade chief, the Tunis district police chief, the traffic police commander, a Bardo security chief and a commander for the capital’s Sidi Bachir district.

“Prime Minister Habib Essid visited the Bardo Museum yesterday…and took note of several security failures there,” he said.

Last week, gunmen took hold of Bardo Museum, killing over 20 people most of whom were tourists from Japan, Poland, Italy and Spain.

The attack, which came two days to Tunisia’s 59th independence anniversary, was claimed by Islamic State (ISIS). The group referred to it as just the first drop of rain of ISIS-planned attacks on the country.

Two of the gunmen were shot dead in what is now dubbed Tunisia’s deadliest attack of the decade, but the president, Beji Caid Ezzebsi, insists one of the gunmen was still at large.

“There were certainly three attackers… there is one who is on the run, he won’t get far,” Essebsi said on Sunday.

The attack is said to have cost the north African nation millions of dollars, as tourism is said to be on the low, with many tourists cancelling planned trips to Tunisia.