British families launch legal action against Thomson over Sousse terror attack
British holidaymakers who were victims of the Tunisia beach gun attack have begun legal action against travel operator Thomson.
Several families who lost loved ones in the attack in Sousse, as well as a number of those who were seriously injured, are claiming Thomson, part of the TUI Group, failed to provide adequate security at its hotel.
Thirty Britons were among 38 tourists killed at the Mediterranean resort by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui on June 26.
Law firm Irwin Mitchell confirmed formal claim letters had been sent to Thomson but no official response had been received.
A Thomson spokeswoman said its was the company's policy not to comment on legal action.
As well as concerns about security around the Hotel Riu Imperial Mahraba and adjacent beach, victims have been critical of the lack of warning given to them about the level of risk in the region at the time.
Clive Garner, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Given the history of escalating terrorist activity in Tunisia, by June 2015 there was a clear risk that tourists visiting Sousse may have been the target of a terrorist attack.
"Every reasonable security precaution should have been implemented to protect hotel guests and staff who rightly expect that their personal safety will be the top priority of those who they trust to look after them.
"It is clear that the security measures were not even sufficient to prevent a lone gunman from accessing the hotel and its grounds, nor were they robust enough to stop him during a prolonged 30 to 40 minute rampage."
The Sousse massacre followed an attack in which 22 people were killed, mostly tourists and including one British woman, at the National Bardo Museum outside the capital Tunis in March.
Two weeks after the attack, thousands of tourists rushed to leave Tunisia after Britain warned another attack was "highly likely" and told them to go home.
TUI, the world's largest leisure and tourism company, said in August that cancelled holidays to Tunisia would cost it between €35 million (£25m) and €40 million (£29m) in total in its current financial year.