Suspected religious extremist dies in explosion while making bomb, Tunisian authorities say

August 3, 2013 at 1:30PM

TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisian authorities say a suspected religious extremist blew himself up while making a bomb in a home he was renting near the capital.

In a statement Saturday, Tunisia's interior ministry says anti-terrorist police are still working to identify the man. His pregnant wife was seriously wounded in the Friday blast, which took place in Jedaida, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Tunis.

Separately, the interior ministry says an "extremist" was arrested on Friday after he blew off his hand while handling explosives in Menzel Bourguiba, 43 miles from Tunis.

A week ago a bomb exploded beneath an unmarked police car in Tunis' port but didn't cause any injuries.

The explosions come days after the government said an al-Qaida linked cell was behind the assassination of leftist politician Mohammed Brahmi.

about the writer

about the writer

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.