Last group of Scots fly home after Tunisia terror warning
Holidaymakers frustrated at being forced to leave tourist danger spot
THE last Scots evacuated from Tunisia amid fears of further terrorist attacks have landed back on home soil.
Following intelligence reports that copycat incidents were “highly likely”, the UK Government called for the urgent repatriation of the some 3,000 Britons currently on holiday in the north African country.
But as frustrated holidaymakers touched down across Britain yesterday, many felt the move to evacuate all Britons had been an over-reaction.
It has been more than two weeks since Islamist gunmen shot and killed 38 tourists on a beach resort in Sousse, but on Thursday last week Foreign Minister Philip Hammond ordered an airlift of UK citizens.
A warning on the Foreign Office website read: “Although we have had good co-operation from the Tunisian government, including putting in place additional security measures, the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, reinforcing our view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.
“On balance, we do not believe the mitigation measures in place provide adequate protection for British tourists in Tunisia at the present time and we have therefore changed our tr avel advice accordingly.”
It added: “Further terrorist attacks are highly likely, including in tourist resorts, and by individu- als unknown to the authorities whose actions may be inspired by terrorist groups via social media.”
However, Scottish holidaymakers – who touched down in at Glasgow Airport yesterday afternoon – felt the move was an unnecessary panic.
Anne Allum, 52, from Leven in Fife, had been due to arrive back in Scotland on Wednesday before being forced home on the final Thomas Cook flight.
She said: “We felt we had no choice and we had to come back because we were hearing that the last flight was on Sunday.
“The people over there were not happy at all. Lots were having their holiday cut short and not one person felt they were in any danger whatsoever.
“There was adequate security and police but they were not in your face or anything.
“All those in the hotel industry and those connected with it have all lost their jobs. Over nothing.”
Fellow holidaymaker Jane Martin, 35, had to cut her trip short by ten days due to an “over-reaction” by the Foreign Office.
The Kilsyth resident said: “I was in the same area, there was no issue with safety. Everything is fine over there.
“The whole thing has been blown far too much out of proportion.”
Four Scots were killed in last month’s attack, with the funeral of Perth couple Billy and Lisa Graham to be held at Perth Crematorium today.
Also among the dead were Cumbernauld couple Jim and Anne McQuire, who were laid to rest at Abronhill Church on Friday.
On the same day, reports emerged from the Tunisian town of El Katr that security forces had killed five extremists, allegedly foiling another terror attack.
In the wake of the Foreign Office order, Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said: “We regret the decision was taken to ask all the citizens to leave the country. We could have done something else that could help both sides, but we understand.
“Tunisia needs to be supported. It needs to be helped against what the terrorists are doing. The objec- tive of the terrorist is that people from abroad won’t feel safe in Tunisia.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has said money should be spent on the SAS and drones to combat the threat of Islamic State (IS) terrorists.
The Prime Minister has asked military chiefs and officials to look at increasing funding for special forces and other counter-terror capabilities as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
They have been urged to consider new spy aircraft, including intelligence-gathering drones against IS and other groups.