Thomson and First Choice customers among those killed in Tunisia

A number of the holidaymakers killed in Friday’s gun attack in Tunisia were Thomson and First Choice customers.

The British foreign office has confirmed that at least 15 UK citizens have been killed but that number may rise.

The attack took place at the RIU Imperial Marhaba and the RIU Bellevue, both part of the TUI holiday programme.
 
"While the situation on the ground remains fluid, we have just had confirmation that a number of fatalities and injuries are Thomson and First Choice customers," Thomson said in a statement on Saturday.

"We are working closely with the local authorities and government to confirm the exact details of those affected.
 
"We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and families of those involved in this tragic event.
 
"We are actively working with the families and friends affected to provide support in resort and a special assistance team is en route to Tunisia to assist our customers."
 
Anyone with concerns about friends and families should call 0800 0885372.
 
"The whole of Thomson and First Choice are deeply shocked and truly saddened by the events and we are grateful to our staff on the ground and the emergency services who are working hard in an incredibly challenging environment," continued the statement.
 
"Due to this terrible tragedy, Thomson and First Choice are repatriating all our customers staying in Port El Kantaoui and Sousse."

In a press conference on Saturday, TUI chief Peter Long said staff from other resorts with specialist crisis management training are being flown out to Tunisia to help those affected.

He praised the reps in the affected resorts for their efforts so far and said reps from other destinations were being drafted in to give those on the ground some time to ‘step back from the traumatic situation’.
 
TUI is cancelling Thomson and First Choice holidays to Tunisia for the next week, but Long refused to be drawn on the future of the programme longer term.
 
Amendments can be made to bookings on holidays to Tunisia until July 24 and Thomsons is scheduling three extra flights to Cape Verde, Rhodes and Gran Canaria for customers wishing to change their holidays.
 
Tunisia’s health minister confirmed the death toll from the gun attack on a beach and hotel pool in the popular Tunisian resort of Sousse had risen to 38, wtih a further 36 people injured.

Tunisia’s prime minister Habib Essid has since said the majority of those killed were British.

Islamic State extremists have said they carried out the attack.

Prime Minister David Cameron has convened an emergency meeting of COBRA to discuss the attack.

The FCO said a British Embassy crisis team is now in the area.

According to reports, the gunman fired at tourists, some on sunbeds, on the private beaches and swimming pools of the two hotels.

British holidaymakers had barricaded themselves inside their hotel rooms to escape the gunfire.

The gunman, a 24-year-old Tunisian student, was shot dead by security forces. Earlier reports said a second gunman had escaped and was arrested, but this has not been confirmed.

In the hours following the attack, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had told British holidaymakers to stay in their hotels and not to reveal their whereabouts on social media or to journalists.

Thomas Cook issued a statement saying said the reported hotels are not offered by Thomas Cook and none of its customers or staff were in residence at the time of the incident.

"However, we do currently have customers staying in other parts of the resort, and our experienced teams on the ground are continuing to offer every support to them and their families at this difficult time," it said.

It is offering customers the opportunity to cancel their holiday to Tunisia free of charge for those due to travel on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June.

For those travelling from Monday 29 June, it is offering  to amend their bookings to Tunisia free of charge for holidays departing up to and including 24 July 2015.

It has set up a dedicated helpline – 01733 224 536 – for concerned customers and for any customers with future bookings to Tunisia who wish to amend or cancel their booking.

It has also set up a separate number for travel agents – 0800 916 0699.

Meanwhile, customers who booked directly through Monarch or Cosmos Holidays and are travelling to Tunisia this week can choose not to travel and will be offered the choice of a change of date or destination.

Any customers affected can call the customer service teams: Monarch Customers: 0333 33 0 700. Cosmos Holidays Customers: 0333 777 4757.

ABTA estimated around 20,000 customers were on holiday with its members in Tunisia at the time of the attack but said there would also be a number of holidaymakers who travelled independently.

In March, Islamist militant gunmen attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis killing 22 people, mainly cruise passengers who were arriving on a coach excursion.

Friday’s attack coincided with an incident in France when a man was decapitated at a US-owned gas factory near Lyon. Islamist flags were found at the scene.

In Kuwait, an Islamic State affliated group said it was behind an attack by a suicide bomber at a Shia mosque during Friday prayers, killing 16 people.