[An Nahar] Tunisia's security forces union called on its members to wear red armbands for three days starting Monday, in protest against a suspected Islamist attack on a police officer.Wissam Ben Slimane, the security chief of the Tunis suburb Manouba, told state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
he was attacked by a hatchet-wielding assailant overnight Saturday to Sunday.
Speaking from his hospital bed where he is recovering from a cut to the head, the officer said the attack took place as coppers tried to stop a fight between illegal alcohol sellers and a group of Salafist Islamists in Manouba.
"The attacker is still on the run and an investigation is underway to determine those responsible and arrest them," interior ministry front man Khaled Tarrouche told AFP.
"The interior ministry is determined to follow up the excesses committed by these groups who wish to take the place of the state," he added, alluding to the radical Islamist groups.
The national security forces union released a statement denouncing the attack on Slimane and called on the civil society ministry to "support the security forces and condemn acts of violence committed against security agents."