Update: British death toll in Tunisia rises
Four more of the 38 shot dead by a gunman on a Tunisian beach have been confirmed as British, taking the country’s death toll to 22.
As the RAF prepared to fly the first of the bodies home today, Thomson and First Choice confirmed all of those identified so far were its customers.
Managing director Nick Longman said: "It is with great sadness that I can confirm that the 22 British people positively identified so far by the FCO, UK Police and Tunisian Authorities as victims of the attack in Tunisia were our customers.
"We continue to assist the FCO as they complete the identification process for the people who they believe to be UK nationals.
"I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the friends and families of those involved in this tragic event and I know I speak for all of us at Thomson and First Choice, when I reiterate that supporting them at this extremely difficult time remains our highest priority.
"Through the FCO and Police Family Liaison Officers, we have been offering all possible support to the families of those who have died or been injured. This includes, should they wish, flying them to and from Tunisia.
"Over the coming days, our priority remains to care for the bereaved, the injured, and to bring all those who wish to return to the UK, home on our additional flights."
Longman also paid tribute to TUI staff, in Tunisia and the UK and on flights, for their ‘incredible efforts’.
"All of them are dedicated to helping our customers and their families and are working around the clock to do so. They have had to undertake some truly distressing tasks in their bid to support our customers," he said.
"We would also like to thank the Tunisian emergency services and authorities who are working extraordinarily hard to help those customers who are injured, remain in resort, or are on their journeys home.
"This was a tragic incident and we are doing all we can to ease the suffering of the customers and staff in our care. We are devastated by this event and the tragic loss of life and the terrible pain this has caused to all involved."
The government said a further nine of those killed were also likely to be British, although their identities has yet to be confirmed.
Dental records of those believed to be among the dead are being sent to Tunisia to help with identification.
Four of those severely injured have been home to the UK by the RAF, meaning there are now no Britons with life-threatening injuries left in Tunisia.
The bodies of the deceased will start to be flown home by the RAF to its base at Brize Norton, with the first arriving today.
Tunisian authorities have arrested several people on suspicion of helping the gunman, who had links to the jihadist group Islamic State.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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