Tunisia Terrorist Was ‘Laughing and Joking Around’ During Attack

Chilling new details — along with a video — have emerged from Friday’s terrorist attack at a Tunisian beach resort, in particular the recollection from survivors that the gunman laughed and joked as he was shooting his defenseless victims.

That jovial nature was captured in a photo reportedly released by the Islamic State group which claimed responsibility for sending a “soldier of the caliphate” to attack citizens of what it called the “crusader coalition” fighting the Islamic State group.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, calling the gunman it identified as Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani, a “soldier of the caliphate.” (Image source: Twitter)

"He was laughing and joking around, like a normal guy," a witness told the Tunisian radio station Mosaique fm.

The witness believed the gunman was aiming at tourists from specific countries.

"He was choosing who to shoot. Some people, he was saying to them, 'You go away,’” the witness said according to the Daily Mirror. "He was choosing tourists, British, French."

Mosaique fm posted the graphic video showing the terrifying moments while the attack was underway.

Survivors said the gunman had his AK-47 hidden inside a beach umbrella when he began his rampage in the resort town of Sousse, killing 38, Sky News reported.

The gunman was later identified by Tunisian authorities as 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui. He was shot dead by security forces.

“He entered by the beach, dressed like someone who was going to swim, and he had a beach umbrella with his gun in it,” Tunisia’s secretary of state for security Rafik Chelly said, adding that the gunman was a Tunisian student previously unknown to authorities.

The Islamic State group on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the gunman as Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani.