Police speak to 50 witnesses to Tunisia terror attacks
Fifty 'critical' eyewitnesses to the Tunisian terror attack have been interviewed by specialist officers in the Midlands.
Their information will play a key part in the investigations into the shooting by Kalashnikov-wielding student Seifeddine Rezgui that killed 30 Britons, including three from the Black Country and one from Staffordshire, on the beach in Sousse.
Hundreds of British holidaymakers were repatriated to East Midlands and Birmingham airports and met with West Midland's Counter Terrorism officers.
Chief Constable Chris Sims said the intelligence would support investigations into the attack.
He said: "The biggest job the network has faced was when the British nationals were repatriated. A great deal were seen at East Midlands airport and some at Birmingham.
"That has seen 50 critical witnesses identified and interviewed to support investigations into the attack."
Mr Sims said the force's Counter Terrorism Unit had faced 'unprecedented levels' of work in the past few weeks.
The force had also been assisting the family of victims Adrian Evans, aged 49, from Bilston, Patrick Evans, 78, and 19-year-old Joel Richards from Wednesbury.
They have also helped the family of Sue Davey from Tamworth, who is originally from West Bromwich and has a daughter in Streetly Walsall.
Mr Sims added: "The last few weeks have seen unprecedented levels of activity for our Counter Terrorism Unit. A lot of that dealt with Syria but we have also dealt with the Tunisia attacks.
"We had three West Midlands' residents in that attack and have been dealing with support for their families and the support for the fatality from Tamworth in Staffordshire whose family live in the West Midlands.
"We also have one seriously injured person in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital receiving treatment."
A fund set up in memory of Joel has raised more than £11,000 in just 10 days with hundreds of donations made online.
The so-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the killings.
The intelligence gathered by the Counter Terrorism Officers will help the investigation into the attack which will help determine whether the gunman acted alone or with others.
South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, who is a member of the Privy Council, said the information gathered by the officers would be 'vital' to the investigation.
He said: "The British Government has a lot of counter terrorism experts over in Tunisia to assist the investigations on the ground.
"It's absolutely vital if people do have information that they come forward and speak to the police. It is very rare that one person will hold all the information.
"These witness statements all form part of the tapestry and every bit is a piece of the jigsaw. That information can get fed back to those assisting the investigations in Tunisia.
"This could be fundamental to understanding what has happened and in planning what precautions we can take to ensure that these evil and abhorrent attacks do not happen again in the future."
