Tunisia tries 21 over deadly Bardo attack

Tunis (AFP) - A trial opened in Tunisia on Tuesday over the 2015 attack on the Bardo museum that killed 21 foreign tourists and a police officer, court officials said.

Two gunmen opened fire at the National Bardo Museum in an operation claimed by the Islamic State group.

Some 21 detained suspects, including two women, attended Tuesday morning's unannounced hearing, defence lawyer Samir Ben Amor said.

Three others, who were not under arrest, were not present, he said.

About 30 people are also on trial in absentia, defence lawyer Rafik Ghak said.

The suspects were not named.

Since its revolution in 2011, Tunisia has faced a series of jihadist attacks that have claimed the lives of more than 100 soldiers and police along with 20 civilians and 59 foreign tourists, according to an official tally.

A month after the Bardo attack, 38 foreign holidaymakers including 30 Britons were killed in a gun and grenade attack on a beach resort near the city of Sousse.

That November, a suicide bombing in the capital killed 12 members of the presidential guard.

IS claimed all three attacks.

French lawyers for the victims of the Bardo attack and their families have said an investigation had left "several dark areas".

One of them, Philippe de Veulle, has said he will boycott the trial, saying it would not offer "independent justice".

Some 26 people went on trial in May over the Sousse attack, including six security personnel accused of failing to assist people in danger.

More than 5,000 Tunisians have travelled abroad to join jihadist groups, mainly in Iraq, Syria and Libya.