Tunisia pays tribute to Bardo Museum terrorist attack victims

A year ago, terrorists stormed the National Bardo Museum in Tunisia and opened fire on tourists killing at least 22, including one police officer.

Friday marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks that has left permanent scars on the families of those affected.

Attending the memorial service was Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid who called for unity in the face of increased terrorist threats.

“Terrorist crimes cannot prevent us from moving forward and consolidating democracy, common and individual freedoms, and their contribution to development in the context of of a strong law of state,” Essid said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Mark Ayrault, was also in attendance and praised the courage of Tunisians and stressed on France’s “unwavering support” to the North African nation.

To honour the victims’ memory, a fresco bearing the names of the victims has been inaugurated inside the museum.

Tunisia Commemorates Victims of Bardo Museum Attack with Mosaic Memorial https://t.co/lCRWIBsW54 #reddit

— Reddit Tunisia (@redditunisia) March 18, 2016

The brutal attack coupled with a second attack on tourists three months later has had a catastrophic impact on Tunisia’s economy which is heavily dependent on tourism.

On the morning of March 18, two young Tunisians, who had trained in a Libyan camp took the tourists hostage for more than two hours but security forces killed both armed men ending the siege three hours later.