Here the Islamic jihadists had a chance not only to “strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah,” but to attack a museum — a repository of the artifacts of jahiliyyah, the pre-Islamic period of ignorance.
“The Latest: 21 killed in Tunisia attack; 2-3 gunmen at large,” Associated Press, March 18, 2015 (thanks to Michael):
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia’s prime minister says 21 people are dead after an attack on a major museum, including 17 foreign tourists — and that two or three of the attackers remain at large.
Habib Essid told national television that the foreigners included tourists from Poland, Italy, Germany and Spain.
He said that two of the attackers were killed in a gunfight with police on Wednesday, and that security forces are hunting for two or three others believed to have been involved.
The attack was the worst in years on a tourist site in Tunisia, which is struggling to solidify its young democracy and prevent violence by Islamic extremists.
Seventeen foreigners were killed, as were a Tunisian security officer and a cleaning woman, the interior ministry spokesman said….
It was the worst attack on a tourist site in Tunisia in years, and comes as the country is trying to establish democracy and keep Islamic extremists at bay….
The National Bardo Museum is adjacent to the national parliament building, which was being evacuated after the shooting.
The museum is a leading tourist attraction that chronicles Tunisia’s history and houses one of the world’s largest collections of Roman mosaics.
It is unclear who the attackers are. Tunisia has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists in recent years, including some linked to the Islamic State group.