TUNIS, Tunisia — The extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility Thursday for an attack on a major museum in Tunisia’s capital that killed 23 people and injured scores of others, including many foreign tourists.
The claim came in an audio recording distributed on social media accounts associated with the group. It said that the attack was carried out by two fighters who struck a “malicious group from the citizens of the crusader countries.”
“The blessed operation led to the killing of scores of infidels and apostates, and the failing security forces did not dare to even approach until after the two heroes ran out of ammunition,” the statement said.
It included a warning to “apostates in Muslim Tunisia,” saying “you will not enjoy security nor be pleased with peace while the Islamic State has men like these who do not sleep amidst grievances.”
Two gunmen were killed during a three-hour standoff at the National Bardo Museum on Wednesday, according to Tunisian officials.
On Thursday, the government announced the arrest of nine suspects, including four people who are believed to have been directly involved in the attack. Military troops will be deployed to protect major cities across the country, it said.
Tunisia is regarded as one of North Africa’s more stable countries, but authorities have struggled to contain Islamist extremists who periodically attack the security forces.
As many as 3,000 Tunisian nationals may have joined Islamic State and other groups fighting in Syria and Iraq, according to government estimates. The militant group is also active in neighboring Libya, where Tunisian nationals have gone to train and fight.
Wednesday’s attack struck a blow at government efforts to revive tourism, a key source of revenue and jobs in the Mediterranean country. At least 20 foreigners were killed along with five Tunisian nationals, including the gunmen.
The victims include people from Australia, Belgium, Britain, Colombia, France, Japan, Poland and Spain, said Tunisian Health Minister Said Aidi, adding that seven bodies had not yet been identified.
A Spanish couple, including a pregnant woman, spent the night hiding in the basement of the museum, too afraid to come out, officials said. They were discovered in the morning, along with a museum employee who had taken refuge in a cellar. All were unharmed.
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