Tourist from Tunis terror attack played dead to survive
Warning: The video above contains graphic images.
TUNIS, Tunisia -- Tunisian state television has turned Wednesday's terror attack into a fast moving music video to bolster the image of its security forces. But for those who lived through it, the experience was a story written in blood.
We spoke to one French tourist named Mariline who described how she and a friend survived the attack.
"My friend and I put blood on our faces and bodies to pretend that we were dead," she said. "We stayed like this without moving, lying on the ground. We were scared to death."
Spanish tourist Juan Carlos Sanchez and his pregnant girlfriend Cristina Rubio said they hid in a storeroom all night.
The two gunmen who were shot have been identified and at least nine suspects linked to the attack have been arrested. But Tunisian authorities still have no clear idea who may have sent them.
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has a foothold in neighboring Libya. On Thursday it claimed responsibility. But a homegrown militant group also applauded the attack and they're linked to al Qaeda affiliates in Algeria.
Abdel Basset Ben Hassan, President of the Arab Institute for Human Rights, worries about the rise in militant Islam.
"I think this is a major challenge to the newly emerging democracy in Tunisia," said Ben Hassan.
The government said the attack appeared to have been aimed at tourism, which is a key part of the Tunisian economy. But merchant Mahmoud Ghorbal said he won't be intimidated.
"I think that the terrorists like to kill our new democracy, to kill our new, wonderful country," said Ghorbal. "But we are strong, thanks for God."
One of the cruise lines whose passengers were among those killed and wounded said Thursday it is cancelling stops in Tunisia. And the Tunisian authorities said they were working with other countries to learn more about the attackers.