Tunisia: Car-ramming in Tunis injures officers November 8

Event

On Wednesday, November 8, a woman was arrested in the capital Tunis after attempting to run over officers standing guard in front of a governmental building. Three police officers were slightly wounded by barriers that were knocked over by the car. The assailant tried to flee the scene, but was arrested. Authorities are investigating the incident, but have noted that there is no apparent terrorist motive and that the incident seems to have been criminal in nature.

Context

This incident comes one week after a suspected terrorist was arrested after stabbing two policemen near the parliament building in Tunis on November 1. The threat from terrorism, including kidnapping, in Tunisia is considered high and a near-constant state of emergency has been in effect nationwide since June 2015.

Advice

Due to the generalized terrorist threat, individuals in Tunisia are advised to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities, particularly when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Certain Western governments advise against travel to the south of the country, e.g. regions on the borders with Algeria and Libya - including the Kasserine region - due to the presence of armed groups.