Women and children were caught up in a police siege yesterday near the Tunisian capital, with suspected terrorists killing one officer in a firefight ahead of elections that have sparked fears of extremist attacks.
The confrontation at a home near Tunis erupted on Thursday as security was tightened in the lead-up to tomorrow’s parliamentary vote, the first since the nation’s 2011 revolution.
At least two women and children were inside the house in the town of Oued Ellil where a group was exchanging gunfire with security forces, the interior ministry said.
“There are two children; that is why we have not launched an assault, but there will be an assault in the hours to come,” Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui said.
Tomorrow’s election is seen as crucial to restoring stability in the north African nation and Tunis has ordered the deployment of tens of thousands of soldiers and police for polling day.
Authorities gave no indication as to the identity of those involved in the ongoing siege, nor whether they were members of any group.
One policeman was killed in the firefight and another wounded.
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