Suicide bomber dies in Tunisian tourist resort

2013-10-30 50

This sun-kissed resort town in Tunisia turned violent on Wednesday when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the resort town of Sousse.

A security source said the bomber wanted to enter the Riadh Palms Hotel with a suitcase.

He was turned away and ran onto the beach where he blew himself up.

There were no other casualties and curious bystanders casually inspected the scene.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ACHREF MNARI, SCHOOL MANAGER, SAYING:

"When I arrived here I saw the upper half of the body of that man lying on the floor. I saw it very well."

Security sources say police foiled another attack the same day.

They arrested a would-be suicide bomber at the tomb of a former president in another seaside town, Monastir.

This was the first such assault in this country in more than a decade and locals say it's bad news for the vital tourism sector.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED CITIZEN, SAYING:

"These are people who want to destroy the tou