Tunisia Hotel Attack: Shot Belgian Tourist Recalls Deadly Attack That Killed 39 People; 10 Bodies Identified

A Belgian tourist, who received gunshot wounds, recounted the deadly attack at the Imperial Marhaba beach hotel in the resort town of Sousse, Tunisia, that claimed at least 39 lives. Clause Besser reportedly described from his hospital bed early Saturday how he took a bullet as he tried to escape the shooter on Friday.

The health ministry on Saturday announced that 10 of the victims have been identified so far. Eight Britons, one Belgian and one German were reportedly among the dead, according to Agence France-Presse. The report added that the identification of other victims may take some time as most of them were in their beachwear and were not carrying any identification proofs. Another 39 people, including British, German and Belgian nationals, were reportedly injured in the incident.

"It's really sad but what can you do, for everyone, for the tourists, for the people who died, for their families," Besser said, according to the Associated Press. "For me, somehow, with a bullet in the leg, it's not a catastrophe. For those who died or injured for life, it's something else.”

The attack, which was described as “cowardly” by Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi on Friday, was claimed by the Islamic State group, according to the SITE Intelligence group. In a statement, ISIS also reportedly urged its sympathizers to intensify attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid reportedly identified the shooter as Seifeddine Rezgui, who was killed by police after the attack. He was not known to authorities and hailed from the town of Gaafour in central Tunisia.

Essid also announced on Saturday that 80 mosques in the country accused of promoting terrorism will be shut down.