Tunisia: Terrorist cell dismantled in Bizerte province January 29

Event

On Tuesday, January 29, Tunisian security officials announced that a terrorist cell had been dismantled in Menzel Bourguiba (Bizerte province). According to local sources, three suspected terrorists were placed under arrest. Reports indicate the cell had ties to foreign terrorist organizations. A heightened security presence is to be anticipated in Bizerte province over the coming weeks. Further counterterrorism operations are possible in the near term.

Context

Islamist militants are active in some provinces of Tunisia, particularly in southern areas and along the border with Libya. The recent dismantling of IS terror cells and associated arrests of suspected militants in southern Tunisia follows the October 2018 suicide attack on security forces in Tunis that wounded 26 people; the suicide bombing was the first attack in the capital since 2015.

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 (i.e. regions on the borders with Algeria and Libya) due to the presence of armed groups.