TUNISIA — A recent video from a self-avowed al-Qaeda member called for holy war against the Tunisian government, raising fears among citizens that extremist violence could escalate.

The June 11th message from 30-year-old Salim Abou Ahmed Ayoub, purportedly the second in command of al-Qaeda in Tunisia, called on citizens to wage a holy war against the government in order to establish an Islamic state and wipe out unbelievers. The online video also directly attacked President Moncef Marzouki, calling for him to be overthrown.

The tape came just a day after al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri issued his own message threatening Tunisia, and after a discovery by Iraqi intelligence services of invitations to al-Qaeda leaders to go to Tunisia and expand their military operations, in order to establish an Islamic caliphate.

Together with a recent wave of salafist violence, the news is worrying many Tunisians who fear the country could become a target for terrorist attacks.

Salim Abdouli is concerned that al-Qaeda supporters in Tunisia will try to impose their agenda on the state and society through violence.

“Terrorism by hard-line salafist groups in Tunisia will become a reality very soon,” he commented. “We should not underestimate or ignore it, instead dealing with and responding to it before it’s too late.”