Travellers are reportedly rushing to make their way out of Tunisia after a gunman opened fire at a beach resort, killing at least 38 people.
On Friday, 24-year-old university graduate Seifeddine Rezgui used an Kalashnikov assault rifle in Sousse, a resort city that is popular amongst tourists, particularly British travellers.
At least 38 people are believed to have been killed during the shooting and another 39 wounded.
Now, busloads of tourists are reportedly cutting their holidays short for fears of another attack.
More victims are named in the wake of a terrorist shooting at a Tunisian beach resort. http://t.co/meHkNfGF8N pic.twitter.com/MbzCqgjY4J
— Mashable (@mashable) June 28, 2015
According to the Associated Press, a large number of travellers have started making their way to Enfidha-Hammamet airport in the hopes of catching an early flight home.
Others with plans to visit Tunisia over the coming weeks are scrambling to cancel their trips.
“A major German tour operator says more than 300 customers who had planned to travel to Tunisia this summer have called asking to change their bookings, most of them seeking to change destinations.”
Associated Press
It’s believed around 15 of the victims came from the UK, among them is Carly Lovett, a fashion photographer, as well as Lorna Carty, an Irish mother of two.
Tourists flee Tunisia after 38 gunned down in massacre that started on beach: http://t.co/HLnVcQgLXI pic.twitter.com/E10NWyYYt1
— CNN International (@cnni) June 27, 2015
Queen Elizabeth II has sent her condolences to the victim’s families, saying the attack left her and her husband Prince Philip, shocked.
In the statement released by Buckingham Palace on Sunday, the queen issued her ‘deepest sympathy’ to those injured and still fighting for their lives in the hospital.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those of all countries who have been affected by this terrible event.”
Queen Elizabeth II
This is the second attack on tourists in Tunisia this year.
In March, 17 tourists, including one Australian, were killed by two gunmen at a popular museum in the destination’s capital Tunis. Read on