Tunisia: Execution of two persons involved in a jihadist attack targeting the US embassy
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A Tunisian court has sentenced two Tunisians to death for their involvement in an attack that targeted the United States Embassy in Tunisia in 2020, according to media reports on Tuesday (March 14, 2023).
The death penalty in Tunisia is converted directly into life imprisonment.
On March 6, 2020, two gunmen riding a motorcycle attacked a security patrol in front of the US Embassy in the Tunisian capital, with a suicide attack.
During the attack, the two gunmen and a policeman were killed, and four policemen and a civilian were wounded.
Five people have been tried for their involvement in the attack, two of whom are on release.
The criminal circuit specialized in examining terrorism cases at the Court of First Instance in Tunis sentenced two to death by hanging and life imprisonment for a third, according to local media.
Tunisia has had a moratorium on executions since 1991.
The court also ruled three and four years in prison for the other defendants.
A court spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Following the 2011 revolution that led to the fall of former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia witnessed the growth of armed jihadist groups, whose attacks resulted in the killing of dozens of tourists, security forces and the army.
The authorities say they have made great progress in eliminating jihadists in recent years, but a state of emergency has been in place in the country since 2015.