Summary:

On 19 June 2023, a security officer was reportedly stabbed by an individual suffering from mental illness near the Brazilian Embassy in Tunis.

The Ministry of Interior announced in a statement that the security officer died from injuries after being stabbed by a sharp object. The security officer had reportedly been questioning the perpetrator about his presence near the Embassy, which led to the stabbing incident. 

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The head of the Office of Information and Communication at the Ministry of the Interior, Fakir Bouzgaya, identified the perpetrator as a teacher who “suffers from psychological disorders, according to what his family confirmed.”

The attacker was arrested after being shot and wounded in the leg by police.

The Ministry of the Interior added that the attacker had no previous interactions with the security units and had no connections to terrorist organizations, emphasizing that the attack was criminal in nature and linked to the attacker’s mental illness.

Outlook:  

Locally, opinions have varied widely about the nature of the attack, with some comparing it to the recent attack in Djerba. In both cases, the government was quick to classify the attack as criminal when, as in the case of the Djerba attack, many were concerned that many attributes of the attack pointed to terrorism.

The attack at the Brazilian Embassy bears fewer indicators of terrorist activity, but is noteworthy for having occurred so recently after the Djerba attack and also at a foreign government facility.

The attack is a reminder of the wide range of threats faced by organizations operating in North Africa, including from lone wolf attacks. We are continuing to watch for additional indicators of further evolution of the security environment in Tunisia and how it could impact organizations operating here.

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