Costa Passengers Die in Tunisian Attack

Five of the people killed at Tunisia’s Bardo Museum attack this week were from the Costa Cruise ship Costa Fascinosa. Bodies are still being identified, and two Costa passengers are still believed to be unaccounted for.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack which also resulted in the death of 12 MSC Splendida cruise passengers. 

Costa commenced making calls in Tunisia’s capital Tunis late last year, but has since announced that it will stop all calls to Tunis, probably for the rest of this year. 

The Fascinosa’s passengers had arrived in Tunis at around 9am on Wednesday, and The Guardian cites a witness saying that a man in his twenties, holding a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, stood in front of a bus of cruise passengers and began shooting.

MSC Cruises earlier confirmed that 12 of its passengers from MSC Splendida were killed including two from Colombia, three from France, three from Japan, two from Spain, one from the U.K. and one from Belgium. Additionally, 13 passengers were injured, two seriously.

Tunisia said it would deploy the army to major cities and arrested nine people on Thursday after the shooting, the worst attack on the North African country in more than a decade.

The attack appears to be aimed at Tunisia’s economy, with tourism accounting for around seven percent of gross domestic product. The government estimates that losses this season for the tourism sector could reach $700 million.

In total, the attack has left 23 dead and dozens injured.