16 January 2017•Update: 17 January 2017
By Busra Akin Dincer
LONDON
Inquests into deaths of 30 British citizens who were killed at a popular resort in the Tunisian city of Sousse in 2015 began in London on Monday.
A minute of silence was held before the hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice.
All the names of the victims were read out in the court, which was full of grieving relatives.
The hearings will examine the factual circumstances of the deaths, focusing on whether the victims were properly informed about the terrorist threat in the country by the Foreign Office and travel agents.
The gunman, Seifeddine Rezgui, had opened fire with his Kalashnikov rifle on tourists while they relaxed by the beach on June 26, 2015. The attack continued until police eventually shot him dead but until then he killed 38 tourists, 30 of whom were British.
During Monday’s hearing, Samantha Leek QC, counsel to the inquest, said a report by Tunisian officials said Tunisian police could have stopped the massacre but they “deliberately” slowed down.
"They had the ability to put an end to the attack before the police arrived but wasted a considerable amount of time in getting to the hotel,” the counsel said.
Inquests are being heard by Judge Loraine-Smith at the Royal Courts of Justice and will take place between Jan. 16, 2017 and Feb. 28, 2017.
