Tunisia, Iraq and Lyon Terror attacks described as ‘Bloody Friday’

WHILE information is still being assessed by the security forces of Tunisia, Kuwait and France, the events of June 26 which is being described around the world as ‘Bloody Friday,’ are being investigated as a possible coordinated ISIS attack.

Reports from international news agencies said ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack on tourists in the holiday resort of Sousse, Tunisia, where at least 38 people died, as well as claiming responsibility for what it called a suicide bombing at the Shiite-affiliated Al-Sadiq mosque in Kuwait, where 27 perished during Friday prayers.

ISIS posted a photograph of the alleged Tunisia Beach gunman – who was shot dead by police at the scene – naming him as Abu Yahya al-Qirawani, (who officials have now named as Seifeddine Rezgui,) although eye witnesses to the attack have not yet confirmed this is the same man.

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid said, “Most of the 38 people killed in the hotel attack were British citizens,” however, as of this moment the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed, “at least five Britons are among the dead.”

Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti authorities during a day of national mourning have detained several suspects for questioning after an explosion ripped through a mosque in Kuwait killing 27 and injuring a further 227 people. An IS affiliate group calling itself the Najd Province said it was behind the attack. This is the same group that claimed responsibility for the two bombing attacks on Shia mosques in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

On the same day, near the French city of Lyon, allegedly Yassin Salhi, 35, caused an explosion by ramming his vehicle into US owned factory area containing flammable liquids. When the emergency services arrived they discovered a decapitated body close to the severed head of Salhi boss, which lay alongside flags bearing Arabic inscriptions.

US anti-terrorist experts told CNN that although the incident in Lyon, on the face of it, could possibly be linked to Islamic extremism, it is unlikely that this attack was directly coordinated by ISIS.

As residents of the French town Saint-Quentin-Fallavier gather outside the town hall on Saturday morning to observe a minute’s silence, and the Kuwaiti people hold a day of mourning, Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid has announced a clampdown on security.

As it would appear that ISIS are intent on causing as much mayhem as possible around the world, we are reminded that The BBC Arabic’s Mohamed Yehia said, an Islamic State spokesperson had called on supporters to intensify their attacks during Ramadan.