Tunisians hang flowers on the gate of the National Bardo Museum in Tunis yesterday, during a demonstration in memory of the 21 people killed in last week’s militant attack on foreign tourists. Tunisia’s national museum delayed a planned reopening after the attack due to security concerns.
AFP
Tunis
Tunisians yesterday honoured the 21 people killed in last week’s militant attack on foreign tourists at their national museum, but its promised reopening was delayed.
Hundreds of people had gathered outside the National Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis, before it was announced that the reopening had been scrapped at the last minute.
Confusion reigned over the reasons for the delay, with museum officials suggesting it was because of “security” issues after Wednesday’s attack and the government speaking of unfinished work at the site.
The culture ministry said “logistical” problems meant the facility was unable to handle “thousands of people”.
Museum directors said they wanted to resume normal operations as soon as possible to show that the gunmen “had not achieved their objective”.
Officials have admitted there were security failures on the day of the attack on the complex, which is next to Tunisia’s parliament.
A symbolic official ceremony honouring the dead - 20 foreign tourists and policeman - went ahead as planned amid a heavy security presence yesterday afternoon.
The ceremony, for invited guests and the media only, opened with dancers in traditional costume and children wearing Roman togas before a classical recital by the Tunisian Symphony Orchestra under a huge antique mosaic.
“It’s a symbolic ceremony. Life goes on - there is still joy,” parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur said.
Bardo curator Moncef Ben Moussa said the museum should reopen “as normal on Sunday”, the day the presidency wants an international march “against terrorism”.
Site managers reported minor damage to the facility during the attack by two men armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and claimed by the Islamic State group.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the museum yesterday to protest against the attack.
Some held signs in English reading “Visit Tunisia”, while others carried banners that said “I will receive you with jasmine”.
“If we want tourists to come back we must set an example,” demonstrator Najet Nouri said.
A handful of tourists arrived at the Bardo unaware that its reopening had been postponed.
“We were not told. We came here to visit the museum,” said Eliane Cotton of France.
The attack has raised deep fears for Tunisia’s vital tourism industry. It was the first to be claimed in Tunisia by IS, the Sunni Muslim extremist group that has seized large parts of Syria and Iraq and claimed attacks in several Arab countries.
On Monday, Prime Minister Habib Essid sacked the police chiefs for Tunis and the area around the museum.
An officer in charge of security at the Bardo was arrested and jailed, although no official explanation was given.
