by Allanah Leahy – EM TV Online
British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday, that the recent attack in Tunisia, which saw 39 foreign tourists killed, does not represent conflict between Islam and the West.
The British Prime Minister said the death toll for British nationals is likely to increase from 22 deaths to around 30.
Twenty-three year old student, Saif Rezgui, walked along Sousse beach in Tunisia in North Africa last Friday, killing a total of 39 foreign tourists with an AK47 and grenades. Officials are yet to confirm whether Rezgui was affiliated with a terrorist organisation. The British Prime Minister identified three key areas that need to be tackled in order to effectively combat the threat of terrorism.
“First, we must give our police and security services the tools they need to root out this poison, we’ve already increased funding for police intelligence services this year and legislated to give them stronger powers to seize passports and prevent travel and over the next two days, our security forces and emergency services will conduct a major training exercise in London’to test and refine the UK’s preparedness for dealing with a serious terrorist attack,” British Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons on Monday.
Cameron also engaged with Britain’s international partners, such as France, Germany and Belgium, to build on counter-terrorism efforts.
“For this is not the war between Islam and the West which ISIL want people to believe. It is generational struggle between a minority of extremists who want hatred to flourish and the rest of us who want freedom to prosper. And together we will prevail,” he said.
Victims of the massacre exhibited extraordinary acts of bravery, with some shielding others, and resort workers helping victims to safety.
The attacker was shot dead by police, but three were arrested on Sunday, and four are currently under investigation. The attack is Tunisia’s second major ambush this year after the March shooting of 21 foreign visitors.
Source: Reuters
