Tunisia remembers: One year on after Sousse beach massacre

Survivors and affected families of the Sousse beach massacre in Tunisia gathered outside the Imperial Marhaba hotel to mark the moment, one year ago, when a lone gunman killed 38 tourists.

The ceremony took place on Sunday, and was attended by British and Tunisian officials, and under tight security.

Out of the 38 killed, 30 were British nationals.

The attack which was claimed by the so-called Islamic State, was the greatest loss of British life in a terrorist incident since the July 2005 London bombing.

The British head of the Foreign Offices in Middle East and North Africa, Tobias Ellwood, said that since the attacks, Britain has strengthened its Embassy to help Tunisia fight the jihadists.

The attacks have dealt a huge blow on tourism in Tunisia. Eighteen hotels have since shut down, many have lost their jobs, and hotel occupancy is down by up to 50%.

Tunis has been pressing London to end its travel advisories that have seen British tour companies scrap bookings, insisting the beaches are safe.

And while the war against ISIS continues to rage, the country’s fragile democracy, delivered in its Arab spring revolution five years ago, has survived.