Attack could seriously affect economy

The 18 March terrorist attack on a museum in Tunis could have serious consequences for the Tunisian economy, the director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Tunisia warned. Fr Jawad Alamat was speaking after two gunmen killed 23 people, mostly foreign tourists, at the Bardo Museum, writes Ellen Teague.

Tunisians have been “deeply saddened”, he suggested, because they too are victims of the terrorists and “will suffer the consequences of this crime at a social and economic level”. The attack, claimed by Islamic State, targeted Tunisia’s tourist industry, a key sector in its economy which attracts six million visitors annually.

Fr Alamat stressed that the attack did not represent mainstream views in the North African country, but he admitted that “we certainly cannot hide the existence of ... extremist groups who use violence to impose their ideology”. He said that any solution must recognise the economic situation in Tunisia, particularly unemployment, which makes “desperate young people” susceptible to being recruited to commit violent acts.

PAKISTAN: Fear has gripped the Christian community in Lahore as it tries to recover from the bombing of two churches by Islamist suicide murderers on 15 March, which killed at least 15 people and injured more than 70. “The situation is critical, but we are fasting and praying together,” said Fr Francis Gulzar, parish priest of St John’s Catholic Church, one of the churches attacked. He reported that many families have left the Lahore suburb fearing abuse of women and children.