Attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait: What happened on Friday

 By 
Amanda Wills
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Attackers carried out strikes hours apart from each other in three different countries on Friday morning.

It's unclear at this point if Friday's attacks are related. However, we are following all three events as the stories unfold.

Tunisia hotel attack: At least 39 dead

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At least 39 people are dead after a young man unfurled an umbrella and pulled out a Kalashnikov, opening fire on European sunbathers at a Tunisian beach resort.

#Sousse #Tunisia The scene of the Attack at the imperial Marhabe hotel http://t.co/LJn2eKNn09 pic.twitter.com/biNn2iYKYW— Tunisia Live (@Tunisia_Live) June 26, 2015

The attack took place in Kantaoui, a tourist area on the northern end of Sousse. The city is a popular destination for tourists from across Europe. Most of the dead are European tourists from Britain, Ireland, Germany and Belgium. Dozens others have been wounded. In a post on its Twitter account, the Islamic State took credit for the attack.

France gas factory attack: 1 dead, 2 injured

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One person was beheaded in what the French president is describing as a "terrorist attack" at a gas factory in southeastern France near Lyon on Friday morning. Two others were wounded. Four people have been arrested.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The decapitated body was found near the Air Products plant in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, according to French President François Hollande, who spoke at a press conference after the attack. A top French official said "multiple arrests" have been made in the case.

Kuwait mosque attack: At least 10 dead

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The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a deadly explosion that struck a Shiite mosque in the Kuwaiti capital after Friday prayers.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Paramedics on the scene said at least two people were killed, but the death toll was expected to rise. One eyewitness told The Associated Press that he saw at least 10 dead bodies.

Global reaction

The United Nations, the United States and other countries around the world are condemning the attack on a U.S. gas factory in France as well as attacks in Tunisia and Kuwait.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said those "responsible for such appalling acts of violence must be swiftly brought to justice" and Interpol offered its help to all three nations.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said it was too soon to tell whether the three attacks were the work of Islamic State extremists but added "we unequivocally condemn these terrorist attacks."

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait today “can happen anywhere”.

UPDATED 4 p.m. PT to include increased death toll following Tunisia attack.

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