afrol News, 12 January - The Interior Minister of Tunisia, Rafik Haj Kacem, has disclosed that suspected Islamist extremists might have been planning to attack foreign missions in the country, as the police found plans of embassies and explosives after they engaged them on a recent gun fire. The diplomatic corps in Tunis is on high alert.

Minister Kacem said the 3 January clash had left 12 extremists killed. After the fierce battle, the police have confirmed the arrest of 15 fighters who were alleged to have stormed Tunisia through Algeria.

Mr Kacem added that a list of names of foreign diplomats in Tunisia were found by the police, although he did not disclose their names to the media.

Tunisia's Interior Minister believed that the men formed part of Algeria's terrorist group of the Algerian Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. This radical group has been fighting to declare Algeria an Islamic state and claims to be the North African representation of al Qaeda.

This would not be the first time terrrorists acted in Tunisia. At least 19 people – mostly German tourists - were killed as a bomb went off outside a synagogue on the southern Tunisian island of Djerba in April 2002. Al Qaeda acknowledged responsibility for the attack.  There have been no incidents in Tunisia since then.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories