Top suspect in Tunis museum attack ‘killed’ as thousands join march

The leading suspect in the deadly attack on a Tunisian museum has been killed, the country’s prime minister has said. Prime Minister Habib Essid said that Khaled Chaieb, also known as Abou Sakhr Lokman, was killed overnight in an anti-terrorist operation. Chaieb, who Tunis suspects of masterminding the assault on the Bardo Museum in Tunis on 18 March, is believed to be a prominent member of al Qaeda’s North African arm al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM). Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack which left 21 foreign tourists and a policemen dead but several armed groups in north Africa are known to have pledged allegiance to the extremist group.

We have killed most of the leaders of Okba Ibn Nafaa who were behind many recent attacks. This is a clear and strong response to terrorism after the Bardo attack.

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid

Chaieb was thought to have been among nine suspected militants from the local group Okba Ibn Nafaa who were killed when they clashed with security forces in the southwest region of Sidi Aich, near the Algerian border. State news agency TAP said Chaieb was killed overnight in an operation in the Gafsa region, also near the Algerian border. Sidi Aich is within the Gafsa region. The announcement came as tens of thousands of Tunisians marched through Tunis in a show of solidarity against Islamist militants. A major road in the Tunisian capital was turned red and white by people waving the country’s flag as they took part in the rally, which was expected to be attended by several world leaders. French President Francois Hollande attended a ceremony at the museum.

We have shown we are a democratic people, Tunisians are moderate, and there is no room for terrorists here. Today everyone is with us.

One of the demonstrators, Kamel Saad

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