- Title: Tunisia 2015 beach attack trial opens under tight security
- Date: 26th May 2017
- Summary: TUNIS, TUNISIA (MAY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TUNIS COURT HOUSE TUNISIAN FLAG PEOPLE COMING OUT OF COURT BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LAWYER OF BRITISH VICTIM LYNN CARTER, AKRAM BAROUNI, SAYING: "Those on trial are charged with homicide, attempted homicide, assault on state property, assault on state security, being an accessory to a murder and the formation of a terrorist gang. There are 26 people on trial, 14 of whom are under arrest and were here present in the trial, and the rest of them are on trial in absentia." POLICE VAN POLICEMAN NEAR VAN "POLICE" WRITTEN (Arabic/French) ON SIDE OF VAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LAWYER OF BRITISH VICTIM LYNN CARTER, AKRAM BAROUNI, SAYING: "The trial was postponed and we are expecting to have the decision of the court and the precise date of the next session this afternoon. In addition, the court will process the requests of defence lawyers, some of which are to release some of the defendants under arrest." PRISON ADMINISTRATION VAN ARRIVING AT COURT HOUSE POLICEMAN OUTSIDE COURT HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LAWYER OF BRITISH VICTIM LYNN CARTER, AKRAM BAROUNI, SAYING: "They are citizens, students, normal people, some security men were also among the accused, because the attorney general considered that there was neglect in dealing with this crime, in preventing such attacks and in reacting to save the victims." COURT HOUSE
- Embargoed: 9th June 2017 16:34
- Keywords: Tunis court house Sousse killings 26 people Tunisia beach attack trial opens
- Location: TUNIS, TUNISIA
- City: TUNIS, TUNISIA
- Country: Tunisia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA0016IH7NLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The trial of 26 people accused of involvement in a 2015 militant attack on a Tunisian beach resort which left 38 people dead opened on Friday (May 26), but was quickly adjourned after lawyers on both sides sought more time to prepare.
Most of the defendants face charges including homicide and forming a terrorist group in connection with the attack in Sousse, in which an Islamic State militant gunned down mostly British tourists before being shot dead by police.
The defendants also include six security force personnel accused of failing to help people in danger.
Lawyers representing some defendants asked for their clients to be released from prison, saying they were not materially implicated in the attack.
Fourteen of the defendants are in detention. They were transferred from prison to a terrorism court in Tunis for the start of the trial on Friday, under tight security.
A British inquiry in February found that Tunisian security forces let down the Sousse victims by delaying their arrival on the scene. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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