Tunisia: Suspected terrorist arrested in Kasserine region Jan. 6

Event

On Saturday, January 6, authorities announced that a suspected terrorist had been arrested near Mount Selloum (Kasserine governorate). The individual, now in custody, was allegedly a member of Jund al-Khilafah, a terrorist group operating in Algeria and affiliated with the Islamic State (IS).

Context

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. Security operations targeting terrorist cells in the country are common.

Advice

Due to the 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.