Athlone couple feared dead in Tunisia attack

An Athlone couple are feared to be the latest victims of yesterday's terrorist attack on beach in Tunisia.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, said there are strong indications that the man and woman are among the dead, along with Meath woman Lorna Carty.

The couple's family are receiving support from both the Department and local Gardaí.

Anyone intending to travel to the country is being asked to exercise extreme caution.

"I believe it's absolutely essential for anybody thinking in terms of travelling to Tunisia [to] exercise extreme caution," said Minister Flanagan.

"While the authorities in Tunisia have declared this incident to be over, I would urge all [Irish] citizens in Tunisia to remain vigilant [and] follow any instructions from police."

The attacker, a man dressed in shorts, yesterday pulled an assault rifle out of his beach umbrella and killed 38 people, mostly tourists.

He was killed by security forces, and later identified as Seifeddine Rezgui, a young student at Kairouan University.

A tweet from the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack and gave his jihadi pseudonym of Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani, according to the SITE intelligence group.

Witnesses said the gunman also used grenades in the attack as he moved methodically from the beach to the pool and then into the hotel lobby.

Mayor of Athlone Cllr Tom Farrell said the community is devastated by the news, where there is widespread shock and disbelief.