Tributes Paid To Tunisia Victims

Tributes Paid To Tunisia Victims
|

Tributes have been paid to the victims of the Tunisian beach massacre as the families of those still missing turned to social media in a desperate appeal for news.

The British death toll stands at 15 but Home Secretary Theresa May said the figure was expected to rise as more information comes out. Three Irish people are also among the dead.

Responding to criticism that the Foreign Office has not been doing enough to inform relatives who are waiting to find out if their loved ones are alive, Mrs May said consular staff have been working "around the clock".

Speaking after chairing a meeting of the Government's emergency cobra committee this morning, she told reporters: "The figure for the number of confirmed dead remains at 15, but we should expect that that figure is going to rise.

"The process is a complex one. And it is of course imperative that we get it absolutely right for families, and that can sometimes take time."

Earlier she also said that those gunned down in the "appalling" massacre would not have had passports or other forms of identification with them on the beach and some victims were being moved between hospitals in the country.

A total of 38 people were killed in the attack at a beach resort in Sousse on Friday, while 39 others were wounded.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to warn that further terrorist attacks in Tunisia are possible and urged people to be vigilant.

Thousands of British tourists have been returning to the UK following the attack by Kalashnikov-wielding student Seifeddine Rezgui.

His killing spree targeted western tourists on the beach at the RIU Imperial Marhaba and the RIU Bellevue and only ended when he was shot dead by police. A bomb was found on his body.

One of the British victims was named as Adrian Evans, who worked for Sandwell Council in the West Midlands as a manager in the gas services department.

The council leader Darren Cooper said: ''Adrian Evans was a very popular and long-serving employee who was manager of our gas services team.

''We are absolutely devastated for Adrian's family, friends and colleagues, and our thoughts are with them and all those affected by this tragedy.''

Joel Richards, reported to be Mr Evans' nephew, was also named as a victim and Birmingham County FA said he was an active member of its youth council.

In a statement, it said: ''A young, talented referee with the world at his feet, he was highly thought-of and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this tragic time.''

He is thought to have been a student at the University of Worcester.

Birmingham-based Gaelic football club James Connolly's GFC also paid tribute to Mr Richards, tweeting that the club was ''devastated'' to learn of his death.

They said he was an ''exceptionally-talented footballer'' who represented both club and county ''with conviction'' on numerous occasions. Mr Richards' 16-year-old brother Owen is reported to have survived the attack.

Another victim was Lisa Burbidge, from Whickham, Gateshead.

Her granddaughter Chloe Thompson left a tribute on the Newcastle Chronicle's Facebook page, saying: "My angel, my bestfriend love you always grandma, rest in peace."

Trudy Jones, of Blackwood in Gwent, south Wales, was named as among the dead by her MP, Chris Evans.

Mr Evans, MP for Islwyn, said: "The reality of this horrific and brutal attack has now been brought home to our communities with the news that Trudy Jones of Blackwood is among those murdered.

"My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time."

Holly Graham from Perth is still waiting to hear from her parents, who were staying in one of the hotels where the attack happened.

Ms Graham's MP, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheik, said she was "understandably upset and worried" about her mother and father, Lisa and Billy Graham.