Acting on intelligence tips, the Tunisian counter-terrorism units killed a notorious terrorist on Wednesday and confiscated weapons.
The Interior Ministry said in a press release "the counter-terrorism units and the National Security units in Sidi Bouzid town killed the dangerous terrorist Hichem Mnefgui." The release, carried by TAP news agency, noted that Mnefgui was hiding in a house together with another individual, his wife and two children who were evacuated after surrendering." "The terrorist opened fire on security units who responded and killed him," the statement added.
The statement noted that security units later searched the house and seized a Kalashnikov rifle and 130 cartridges, another Styr rifle and 96 of its cartridges, a grenade and an explosive belt that was defused.
The Ministry also said the wanted terrorist had ties with leaders of the terrorist group Okba Ibn Nafaa led by Lukman Abu Sakhr.
One member of the security forces was injured in the operation and was rushed to Sidi Bouzid hospital, the statement added.
The crackdown was conducted as part of a combing operation in the neighborhoods suspected of harboring individuals wanted by justice and subject to search warrants in different terrorist cases.