Woman bomber injures 10 in Tunis

Nine security men and a civilian were injured when a woman blew herself up in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis yesterday afternoon.

Witnesses said the woman was targeting a police patrol stationed near the Municipal Theatre on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, the main artery in Tunis.

Security sources identified the terrorist as Mona Bint Mohammad Qabla and that she was from Sidi Alwan in the governorate of Mahdia, 220km south of Tunis. The sources added that the 30-year-old bomber had no terrorist or criminal record.

Pictures taken after the explosion showed the terrorist lying on the wide pavement with her body intact except in the lower abdomen where she is believed to have worn an explosive belt.

Tunisians took to social media to condemn the explosion and to post their indignation. Tunisia, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has improved security since a series of militant attacks targeting tourists caused the near collapse of the sector three years ago.

In 2015, 21 people were killed during a hostage siege in its national museum, the Bardo in Tunis, and a gunman killed 38 people on a resort beach.