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What is happening in Tunisia after terror threat level raised?

Britons are being told to leave Tunisia amid fears of a fresh terrorism attack in the country.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed its advice on travel to the holiday destination where 38 people were killed in a mass shooting on a beach last month.

It is now warning against all but essential travel.

Travel firms are pulling out of the holiday destination after intelligence suggested another terrorist attack is “highly likely”.

Thomson and First Choice immediately cancelled all outbound flights to Tunisia for the summer season running up to and including October 31.

All 30 of the Britons who were killed in the beach massacre in Sousse on June 26 were Thomson and First Choice customers.

The firm does not currently have any customers in Tunisia but “as a precautionary measure we have taken the decision to repatriate all British Thomson and First Choice staff currently working in Tunisia within the next 24 hours,” a spokesman said.

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up to the same date. A spokesman said it will be bringing all of its customers back to the UK “as soon as we can”. Full details http://t.co/w7RZIHuMES

The spokesman added: “The safety and well-being of our customers is our primary concern. As always, we have been closely following the advice from the FCO and local authorities to monitor the situation in Tunisia. In response to the recent change in FCO advice we have taken this decision to bring all Thomas Cook customers back to the UK as soon as we can using third party carriers and on our 10 scheduled flights over the weekend.

“Thomas Cook is strongly advising its guests in the country to return on these flights. We are also sending our specialist assistance teams to Tunisia to offer customers additional support in resort.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to support our guests in Tunisia at this time and will work to bring them back to the UK safely and as soon as possible.”

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: “While we do not have any information suggesting a specific or imminent threat, since the attack in Sousse the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably leading us to the view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.”

Holidaymakers should contact their tour operators about returning to Britain and independent travellers should make their own arrangements to leave, the FCO said.

Between 2,500-3,000 British tourists are believed to be in Tunisia and about 300 independent travellers.

Brits have been advised to leave Tunisia (Darko Vojinovic/AP/PA)

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) urged people due to travel to Tunisia to contact the company they booked through.

It said: “For anyone due to travel, you should be aware that travelling out to Tunisia at this time is likely to invalidate your travel insurance policies. Most insurance policies will still provide cover for travellers in a country at the time of Foreign Office advice change.

“Those with holidays booked within the next 48 hours to Tunisia are advised to contact your travel company to discuss available options. If you have booked a package you will be entitled to a refund or alternative holiday.”

ABTA's advice for customers following the FCO's change in travel advice to Tunisia http://t.co/LIEpgQMVmA