News March 29, 2015

Lead Suspect in Tunisia Museum Attack Killed, Prime Minister Says

A victim is being evacuated by rescue workers outside the Bardo museum in Tunis, Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Tunis, Tunisia. Gunmen opened fire at a leading museum in Tunisia's capital, killing 19 people including 17 tourists, the Tunisian Prime Minister said. A later raid by security forces left two gunmen and one security officer dead but ended the standoff, Tunisian authorities said. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)

Associated Press

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia's prime minister says a leading suspect in a deadly museum attack on foreign tourists has been killed in anti-terrorist operations.

State news agency TAP cites Prime Minister Habib Essid as saying that Khaled Chaieb, also known as Abou Sakhr Lokman, was killed overnight in an operation in the Gafsa region near the Algerian border.

Chaieb is believed a prominent militant in al-Qaida's North African arm, and suspected of leading or helping lead the March 18 attack on the National Bardo Museum.

A victim is being evacuated by rescue workers outside the Bardo museum in Tunis, Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Tunis, Tunisia. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)