Third suspect in Tunisia museum attack at large; anti-terror laws being created

TUNIS, Tunisia, March 23 (UPI) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi announced there is a third gunman of the National Bardo Museum attack who is "on the run" and that new terrorism laws will be issued.

There have been multiple arrests linked to Wednesday's attack in which 23 people died. A recently released surveillance video showed three attackers, according to Essebsi.

"There were certainly three attackers... there is one who is on the run, he won't get far," he said. "We've asked the people to help [find the third attacker] because the people are interested in this."

Lawmakers in Tunisia are currently working on new anti-terrorism laws because of the attacks. Essebsi, 89, said a monument will be erected for the victims of the Bardo attack, apparently carried out by the Islamic State.

There were no details released about the new laws.

"We're against a police state" Essebsi said on Europe 1 Radio. "But I say that liberties cease when abuses begin, and we are the victims of abuses from fanatics."

Six police chiefs were fired after the attack. Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid visited the museum and discovered several security deficiencies.

The attack on the museum could potentially threaten Tunisia's tourism industry. The country has had a relatively more peaceful transition after former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was removed from power, but the country has yet to "see the fruit of this in terms of economic growth," Razan Nasser, senior Middle East and North Africa economist at HSBC Holdings Plc., told Bloomberg.

Tourism in Tunisia generated $2.1 billion in 2014, up from $1.7 billion in 2011 but short of the $2.5 billion generated in 2010. Growth is expected to decline since several countries have issued travel advisories and cruise companies have canceled stops.