Department ‘urgently reviewing’ Tunisia travel advice

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is “urgently reviewing” its travel advice for Irish citizens in or planning to travel to Tunisia.

All British nationals were being urged to leave Tunisia on Thursday after Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said “a further terrorist attack is highly likely”.

Mr Hammond said there was no suggestion of a “specific or imminent threat”, but advised against all non-essential travel.

Three Irish citizens were among 38 tourists killed in a terrorist attack in Sousse on June 26th.

The current advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs is to exercise “extreme caution” following attack.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the “updated travel advice” from Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office had been “noted” and that the department was “urgently reviewing its travel advice in consultation with the appropriate agencies”.

The current advice on travel to Tunisia also calls on citizens to “maintain a high level of security awareness”, to monitor local media closely, and to follow the instructions of the Tunisian authorities and tour operators.

“While the Tunisian authorities have declared this incident to be over, we urge you to remain vigilant and to follow any instructions given by the police, tour operators, and hotel staff,” says the advice. “There is a risk of further attacks, which could target tourists.”

A terrorist attack on March 18th at the Bardo National Museum in central Tunis killed 24 people including 20 foreign tourists, while many others were injured.