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The United States embassy in Tunisia has warned its citizens to avoid a major shopping mall in the capital Tunis on Sunday because of a reported threat of a potential militant attack there.
“We wish to advise you that a report of unknown credibility indicates the possibility of a terrorist attack at the Tunisia Mall in Berges du Lac on Sunday, December 20, 2015. We advise you to avoid the area,” the US embassy in Tunis said.
Tunisia is grappling with a growing extremist threat that has seen several major attacks claimed by the Islamic State group (ISIS) this year targeting tourists and security forces.
The statement gave no further details. But Tunisia security forces have been on high alert since the November 24 suicide bombing that killed 12 presidential guards as they boarded a bus to start their tour of duty.The November attack on a main boulevard in the capital underscored the vulnerability of Tunisia to Islamist militancy, following assaults on the Sousse seaside tourist hotel in June where 38 people, mainly British holidaymakers, were gunned down and the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March where twenty-one foreigners and a policeman were killed, all claimed by Islamic State.
Tunisia recently announced that it will be joining a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia to combat ISIL.
