Tunisia to tighten security following resort attack

Port el Kantaoui

Tunisia weighed new security measures today as it scrambled to secure its vital tourism sector after 38 people were killed at a seaside resort in the worst jihadist attack in its history.

The country's National Security Council was to meet later today after authorities vowed to ramp up security following Friday's attack targeting tourists, which saw at least 15 Britons killed.

After an emergency meeting late yesterday, Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli promised new steps to ensure the "protection of Tunisia's tourist sites and beaches by armed police units".

"We can no longer refrain from taking difficult measures," Gharsalli said in a statement carried by Mosaique FM radio, adding that at least 1,000 members of security forces would be involved in securing tourist sites.

Authorities had earlier announced plans to deploy armed security officers along the coast and inside hotels from July 1 and to shut down 80 mosques accused of inciting extremism.

The attack saw a Tunisian student disguised as a tourist pull out a Kalashnikov rifle hidden in a parasol and open fire on beachgoers at the Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel in Port El Kantaoui, near Sousse south of the capital Tunis.

Witnesses have described scenes of sheer terror, with the gunman mowing down screaming tourists as many ran for their lives.