A policeman has been killed after a suicide bomber on a motorcycle has set off a blast near the US embassy in Tunisia.
In a statement, the Tunisian Interior Ministry confirmed that a police officer has been killed and 6 others have been injured following the attack.
The blast is believed to have occurred 150 meters away from the embassy shortly before noon local time, targeting a checkpoint near the embassy.
Embassy officials confirmed the attack in a tweet on its official Twitter and urged people to avoid the area as well as to monitor local media for updates.
“Emergency personnel are responding to an explosion that occurred near the U.S. Embassy in Tunis,” the embassy’s account posted on Twitter. “Please avoid the area and monitor local media for updates.”
https://twitter.com/usembassytunis/status/1235882485743071234
“Shams FM” local radio station quoted the witnesses saying, that they heard a “large explosion”.
Pictures from the scene show a wrecked vehicle, and debris scattered on the road near the embassy.
Moreover, reports of the attack circulated on Twitter, alongside footage from the scene, which showed panicked people stuck in traffic.
“They say a guy blew himself up in front of the US embassy.” a Tunisian user tweeted.
The shared footage also showed human remains believed to be from the attacker.
The local Radio Mosaique FM reported that a second assailant is on the run.
The attack took place in the Lac district, east of Tunis, where several other embassies and offices of international institutions located.
Over the past few years, Tunisia has been plagued by terrorist attacks, repeatedly targeting its security forces and politicians in attacks that are characterized by car bombs and assassinations.
Tunisia has been battling militant groups operating in remote areas near the border with Algeria since its revolution in 2011.
No group has yet claimed responsibility.
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