Latest Tunisian Attack Was ‘Terrorist Act;’ 12 Dead

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) -- The latest on an explosion that targeted a bus carrying Tunisian presidential guards in the capital. All times local.

7:05 p.m.

The Tunisian Interior Ministry says that an explosion that hit a bus carrying members of the presidential guard in the capital was a "terrorist act" that killed at least 12 people.

Ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told The Associated Press that at least 16 people were wounded in Tuesday's attack.

The blast came 10 days after authorities increased the security level in the capital and deployed security forces in unusually high numbers, and after the country's toiurism industry has been hit hard this year following extremist attacks.

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6:15 p.m.

Tunisia's Interior Ministry says an explosion has struck a bus carrying members of the presidential guard in the country's capital, killing at least 11 people.

The blast occurred on the tree-lined avenue in the center of the capital, Tunis. It was unclear what had caused the explosion, which came 10 days after authorities increased the security level in the capital and deployed security forces in unusually high numbers.

Earlier this month, Tunisian authorities announced the dismantling of a cell it said had planned attacks at police stations and hotels in the seaside city of Sousse, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) southeast of Tunis.

A luxury beach hotel in Sousse was hit by an attack last June that left 38 people dead. In March, an attack at Tunisia's famed Bardo museum near the capital killed 22 people.

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5:55 p.m.

Tunisia's Interior Ministry says an explosion has struck a bus carrying the presidential guard on the main avenue in Tunis.

A Tunisian national TV station Watanya says there were several victims in Tuesday's afternoon blast, but it was not immediately clear whether there were fatalities. The blast occurred on the tree-lined avenue in the center of the capital, Tunis.

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