Elderly couple from Catalonia among the 23 victims killed in Tunisia terrorist attack

Barcelona (ACN).-  The terrorist attack in Tunis' Bardo National Museum that took place on Wednesday killed 23 people, 20 tourists and 3 locals, and injured more than 40. Among the fatalities there was an elderly couple from Barcelona, who were celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary. Antoni Cirera, aged 75, and Dolors Sánchez, aged 73, were given a cruise trip by their children on the MSC Splendia (which was stopping over in Tunis) to celebrate having been married for 50 years. Their family is already on their way to the North African country. Neighbours were shocked by the news and preferred not to talk to press out of respect for the family.

The Catalan Government and Barcelona City Council paid tribute to the victims in Sant Jaume Square on Thursday at noon. The Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, and the Catalan Minister of the Presidency, Francesc Homs, have held a minute of silence before the City Council building and the Generalitat Palace (the seat of the Catalan Government), which are both located on the same square.

In addition, the President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, sent a letter to the victims' family in which he expressed his sorrow and solidarity. Mas also addressed the President of Tunisia to stress "the solidarity of the Catalan people" and to praise "the courage and commitment" of the Tunisian people "with the values of democracy and freedom".

Besides, Francesc Homs expressed "a fervent repulsion" to the attack and emphasised the Government's solidarity with the victims. He also insisted that the Mediterranean basin is also "a cradle of concord", which "can bring the hope we collectively need" at such moments.

The Mayor of Barcelona strongly criticised those "who defend ideas with violence". "We all have to be united in front of this fanaticism, which has always to be condemned". Xavier Trias also added that "it is important" that the family and friends of the elderly couple murdered "receive the city's warm comfort".

In addition, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, expressed his sorrow "for the Cirera-Sánchez family". Rajoy also announced that members of the Spanish Police specialised in counter-terrorism have travelled to Tunisia to help in the investigations and to prevent further attacks. He stressed that "the battle is against barbarity, not against any civilisation".