THE WEYMOUTH families caught up in the Tunisia terror attack are back home safe.

As reported in the Echo, Macauley Arnold, his girlfriend Georgia Richards and her family were staying at the Riu Belleview, where a gunman opened fire on tourists.

The family and other tourists were given shelter by a kind-hearted Tunisian man who took them up on the roof of his house until the shooting was over.

As the Echo went to press on Friday, the group was awaiting news on a flight back to England.

Their holiday had been due to end this Wednesday but after what happened they just wanted 'to come home.'

They got spaces on a coach which departed midnight Saturday and were on a 3.30am flight back to Gatwick, arriving home on Saturday.

Macauley, age 20, who works at Weymouth's Wilko store, said they were relieved to be home.

Meanwhile, Johnny Richards, 17, and his dad Simon were walking to the beach as the gunman opened fire.

They said that they felt lucky to be alive as five minutes earlier and they could have not been as fortunate.

The father and son are now back in Weymouth.

Johnny, a lifeguard at Dorchester 1610, said: "We landed yesterday in Manchester [Saturday] and ended up having no way of getting back to Weymouth. Thomas Cook ended up paying for hotel and a taxi back, so it all worked out well in the end."

Thirty-eight people were killed in the atrocity on Friday. Fifteen of the casualties were British.

The Sousse atrocity is "the most significant terrorist attack on British people" since July 7, 2005 when 52 people were killed, Foreign Minister Tobias Ellwood said.

He confirmed that at least 15 British nationals were killed in the attack but said that number "may well rise as several more have been seriously injured".

Mr Ellwood added: "This is the most significant terrorist attack on British people since 7/7 and highlights the ongoing threat of Isil."

Kalashnikov-wielding student Seifeddine Rezgui targeted western tourists as he terrorised the popular resort.

His killing spree on the beach at the RIU Imperial Marhaba and the RIU Bellevue ended when he was shot dead by police. A bomb was found on his body.

Home Secretary Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency cobra committee this morning.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to warn that further terrorist attacks in Tunisia are possible and urged people to be vigilant.

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