Tunisia: Suspected militants rob bank in Kasserine August 1

Event

An armed group hijacked a car and robbed a bank in Kasserine (Kasserine province) on Wednesday, August 1, fleeing with an unknown amount of money. According to authorities, those involved in the robbery have a suspected "terrorist background." Further militant activity is possible in Kasserine and surrounding areas near the Tunisia-Algeria border in the near-term.

Context

The threat from terrorism in Tunisia is considered high and a near-constant state of emergency has been in effect nationwide since June 2015. Some 3000 people left Tunisia to fight for militant groups in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. Some have since returned to the country, prompting security forces to frequently carry out security operations targeting suspected terrorist cells.

Advice

Due to the terrorist threat, individuals across Tunisia are advised to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities, particularly when visiting sites deemed especially likely to be targeted in an attack (e.g. 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) due to the presence of armed groups.