Thousands of European tourists being evacuated from Tunisia

A Jetairfly aircraft flying yesterday from Germany to Tunis turned around midair after news emerged about a terror attack.

A Jetairfly aircraft flying yesterday from Germany to Tunis turned around midair after news emerged about a terror attack.

The UK Foreign Office has warned travelers that some attackers may still be at large in Tunisia and has urged people to stay indoors and not disclose information on social media.

Ten bodies have been identified out of 38 – 8 Britons, a Belgian and a German – said senior ministry official Naoufel Somrani. Another 39 people were wounded including British, German and Belgian nationals.

The Tunisian ministry said more time was needed to identify the other victims because most of them were in beachwear at the time of the attack and were not carrying identification.

Ten Thomson Airways flights are travelling to Tunisia from Britaomto bring approximately 2,500 Thomson and First Choice customers home.

All Thomson and First Choice packages to Tunisia will be cancelled for the next week. Amendments can be made to bookings on holidays to Tunisia until 24th July. Instead passeners booked on a holidat to Tunisia can will be offered trips to Cape Verde, Rhodes and Gran Canaria. Additional flights are already scheduled.

Also German tour operators allow free cancellation and are sending planes to Tunisia to pick up travelers.

Tourism is a key component of Tunisia’s economy, generating around 15 per cent of its GDP.

TUI joint chief executive Peter Long said: “Our whole organisation is reeling with pain to see the suffering that is taking place in Tunisia with our customers…We are doing our very, very best to look after our guests who are still in Tunisia.”

Thomson had hundreds of customers at hotels in the Sousse area, and confirmed several of the victims were its customers, but was unable to confirm how many had been killed or injured.

Itaka Polska, a Polish tour operator is also cancelling all trips to this North African country.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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