At least 20 people were killed in March 2015 when gunmen went on a shooting spree at the National Bardo Museum in the capital, Tunis. Security forces killed two of the gunmen, Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaoui. Officials said they believe an accomplice escaped. The Islamic State and a smaller extremist group, Okba Ibn Nafaa, claimed responsibility for the attack. The victims were passengers of a cruise ship, and Tunisian authorities believe the gunmen targeted the countrys tourism industry, a substantial source of revenue for Tunisia.

They wanted to attack an economic sector that is very important for Tunisia, a sector that is already in difficulties, and try to sink once and for all the economic development of the country, said Prime Minister Habib Essid.

On June 26, 2015, a gunman, identified as 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui, opened fire at the Port El Kantaoui resort, killing 38 tourists. It was the second attack on tourists in Tunisia in three months. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for both attacks.

See also Encyclopedia: Tunisia .

U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Tunisia

National Statistics Institute (In French only) www.ins.nat.tn/ .