The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
At least 37 killed in beach terror attack
Five Britons die in Tunisia amid fears those numbers will rise on day of triple attack
British tourists were among those murdered as terrorists struck on three continents yesterday.
At least 37 people were killed in Tunisia when a gunman opened fire on a beach in the town of Sousse. The lone terrorist’s victims included British, German and Belgian tourists.
Hundreds, including Fife holidaymakers, witnessed the terrifying events.
Officials said that the gunman, who was wearing an explosive belt, had been shot dead.
In France, a man was decapitated and several others injured in what is understood to be an Islamist-inspired attack, while 25 Shia Muslims were killed in an attack on a mosque in Kuwait.
All occurred within the space of three hours.
A terrified Fife couple were forced to hide in their hotel room yesterday after gunmen opened fire on a Tunisian beach.
Carrie Haldane, 24, and boyfriend Steven McSorley are staying in a hotel five minutes’ drive from where the horrific terrorist attack occurred.
The Kinglassie student said: “All I want to do is get home. I am really terrified.”
Despite being just five minutes from the scene of the carnage, she and her partner Steven were unaware of the atrocity until a friend contacted them on Facebook as they were sunbathing.
The couple, who stay in Glenrothes, immediately went to the hotel lobby, which soon after was besieged by other tourists looking for cover.
Carrie said: “People were crying, hugging each other and generally really upset.
“Right now there is no real panic outside and some people are continuing to do normal holiday things but we are too scared to go back outside.
“We are in our bedroom, trying to keep safe.
“We haven’t been given very much information but we have been told that so far flights home today and tomorrow have been cancelled.
“We are due to fly home on Sunday but we don’t know yet if that will be possible.”
The only information the couple had yesterday was from home and they were waiting for guidance.
Carrie said: “This all seems surreal. It’s hard to get your head round that 37 people have died in a hotel only five minutes away from ours.”
Meanwhile their families had to wait anxiously to hear from the couple.
Steven’s dad George McSorley had driven them to Glasgow Airport last Sunday for their flight to Tunisia.
Mr McSorley told The Courier: “They are both fine and both in their hotel. They are in their room.
“I’ve told Steven to do what the authorities tell him – no heroics, just stay away from the windows and doors,” he added.
Mr McSorley first knew of the horrifying scenes emerging from Tunisia when he was out and about.
“Carrie’s father phoned me when I was in the town centre,” he said.
“I don’t watch TV in the morning so I didn’t know anything about it.
“He’d managed to get in touch with Carrie, who said that they were both OK.”
For Steven’s mum Christine, events unfolded when she was at work in the Fettykil Fox restaurant in Glenrothes.
“They have a TV on in there and one of the girls just told her. She was very upset,” Mr McSorley said.
He said the couple had been told not to use their phones so he sent them a text.
“I think the authorities thought if they were hiding and their phones rang, the terrorists could find them,” he said.
The couple are scheduled to come home tomorrow but it is unclear when they will arrive back in Scotland.
Some people are continuing to do normal holiday things but we are too scared to go back outside.
CARRIE HALDANE