Tunisian suicide bomber identified as local street vendor

Tunisian authorities have identified a suicide bomber who targeted presidential guards on a bus in a deadly attack, saying he was a 27-year-old local street vendor.

Forensic police identified Houssam ben Hedi ben Miled Abdelli by his DNA, the interior ministry said, adding that he was from a working-class neighbourhood on the edge of Tunis.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on a bus in central Tunis, which left 12 people and the attacker dead.

The blast shook Tunisia and its fragile young democracy after two attacks on tourist sites this year by Islamic radicals that killed 60 people.

A disgruntled Tunisian vendor set himself on fire in 2010, sparking a nationwide uprising that overthrew the president and led to revolts across the Arab world.