TUNIS: Tunisia’s president said Wednesday that the escape of five prisoners convicted of “terrorism” was a well-planned operation that had clearly been in the pipeline for “months.”
The government has urged Tunisians to be vigilant following the escape of the five from Mornaguia, Tunisia’s largest prison, on Tuesday.
President Kais Saied said the prison break had been a “premeditated operation.”
“All the elements indicate that the operation had been planned for several months,” he said during a meeting with Interior Minister Kamel Feki.
“What happened is not acceptable, it is a failure for the security forces and certain individuals and they must be prosecuted,” he added.
He accused certain people, who he did not name, of wanting to “harm the state.”
Among the escapees was 44-year-old Ahmed Al-Malki who was serving 24 years in prison on terrorism charges following the killing of opposition figures including Chokri Belaid.
The February 2013 assassination of Belaid — who was leader of the leftist Democratic Patriots’ Unified Party — shocked the country and set off a political crisis that forced the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party to cede the power it wielded since the 2011 revolution.
Several months later, Mohamed Brahmi, a left-wing member of parliament, was also killed. An investigation into both of their deaths has remained open ever since.
Both Belaid and Brahmi opposed Ennahdha, which dominated both parliament and government throughout most of the last decade.
The assassinations were claimed by jihadist militants.
Tunisian president says prison break well planned
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Tunisian president says prison break well planned
Gaza death toll surges to 71,548 as Israeli aggression continues
- The administration of President Donald Trump earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza
GAZA: The death toll from Israeli attacks has risen to 71,548 Palestinians, with 171,353 reported wounded, since the beginning of the offensive on Oct. 7, 2023, according to medical sources.
One new fatality was reported at a Gaza hospital in the past 24 hours, along with six new injuries, sources said.
Several victims remain trapped under rubble or lying in the streets, with ambulance and civil defense crews unable to reach them due to the widespread destruction and lack of supplies.
Since the ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 11, the number of fatalities has increased to 464 along with 1,275 injuries, while 712 bodies have been recovered from beneath the rubble.
Earlier on Saturday, a 27-day-old baby died because of severe cold, bringing the number of child deaths caused by extreme winter conditions since the start of the season to eight.
The administration of President Donald Trump earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas, and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
But Israel’s government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing the next steps in Gaza.
Israel says the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details.
Saturday’s statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Foreign Ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The White House-announced committee announced on Friday includes no Israeli official but does include an Israeli businessman.
Other members announced so far include two of US President Donald Trump’s closest confidants, a former British prime minister, an American general, and a collection of top officials from Middle Eastern governments.
The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named.
The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gaza’s day-to-day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee.
The committee’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
