Tunisia foils attempt to kill interior minister

Counterterrorism forces from the Tunisian National Guard have foiled a terrorist plot to assassinate a major political figure, the official spokesman of the Court of First Instance in Tunis, Sofiene Selliti, said on Sunday. Local reports claim that the terrorists’ target was Interior Minister Hadi Hidayat, whilst he was visiting his parents’ home.

Multiple arrests have been made. The identities of those who have been detained will be revealed soon, as the investigation progresses. According to Selliti’s statement, the group of people who were arrested also planned to target national security headquarters and officials.

The terrorist group involved has been monitored since August and has 62 members, both men and women. Thirty-six of them are now in custody; six have been released and 20 are still at large.