Britain said Saturday that at least 15 of its citizens were killed in the attack on a Tunisian beach resort, its worst loss of life in a terror incident since the 2005 London bombings. "Sadly I can confirm that at least 15 British nationals were killed in yesterday's atrocity said Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood. "But I should stress that the number may well rise as several more have been seriously injured in this horrific attack."
At least 38 people were killed on Friday when a Tunisian student disguised as a holidaymaker opened fire at a resort in Port el Kantaoui just north of Sousse, about 140 kilometres (90 miles) south of Tunis. The shooting was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria. "This is the most significant terrorist attack on British people since 7/7 and highlights the ongoing threat of ISIL," Ellwood told reporters. Some 52 people were killed when four suicide bombers attacked London's transport system on July 7, 2005.
Earlier, Tunisian authorities put the British toll at eight but Prime Minister David Cameron had urged the public to "be prepared for the fact that many of those killed were British". British police have sent forensic experts and detectives to Tunisia to help identify victims and gather evidence. Officers were also interviewing many of the British holidaymakers who flew home on Saturday, in particular looking for any phone footage taken of the incident. About 20,000 British tourists are currently on package holidays in Tunisia, according to ABTA, the country's largest travel association.