Tunisia uncovers al-Qaeda group, 2 militants escape

Dismantling of a terrorist cell linked to al-Qaeda in Tunis Tunis – Azhar Jarboui An extremist militant group linked to al-Qaeda has been uncovered by the Tunisian authorities, officials announced on Saturday. The group recruited fundamentalist youths to send them to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb [AQIM] strongholds, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior said.
Seven members of the network were arrested. An investigation is underway, said Minister of Interior spokesman Khaled Tarouche.  
Tarouche said the arrests were made when a vehicle heading towards the Algerian-Tunisian border was stopped in the province of Jendouba. The driver and one of his passengers were apprehended while two others managed to escape. Security forces are pursuing the two men, Tarouche said.
A search of the vehicle uncovered four bags carrying cables, electroshock weapons, explosives and gunpowder, as well as some documents and food supplies.
The two detainees have confessed being part of a religious militant network. The information has prompted a large-scale campaign of inspection and investigation resulting in the apprehension of five more members of the Jihadi network.
A handgun and 25 bullets were discovered in the possession of one detainee and 10 Kalashnikov rounds, combat outfits, knives and maps were recovered from the home of another member of the group.
In other security developments, the Algerian authorities banned 13 Tunisians from leaving the territory. They were stopped and questioned Saturday evening in the city of Tébessa. The 13 men and women have complained that their belongings were taken away and that they were at a Tébessa hotel with no money.
Security units in Tataouine province, near the Libyan border, seized weapons in the possession of three individuals who were driving towards Libya.
Eight rifles and over 44 electroshock weapons were seized in addition to a quantity of neuro-paralysing gas.
Tunisian border security posts have been under maximum security alert since last week after a Tunisian officer was killed in a gun battle with an armed group. Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, has reassured the public that the border areas were well-guarded, highlighting Algerian vows to help secure the borders between the two countries.