The Islamic State group is claiming responsibility for the deadly attack on Tunisia’s national museum – which killed 23 people, mostly tourists.

Today’s statement from the terrorists described the Tunis attack – in part – as a “blessed invasion of one of the dens of infidels and vice in Muslim Tunisia.”

The statement appeared on a forum that carries messages from the group.

The Bardo museum contains one of the world’s finest collections of Roman and Byzantine mosaics: evoking Tunisia’s connection to the history of imperial Rome.

After the defeat of Carthage in 149 BC, Rome set out to erase all memory of their north African enemies -by building palaces, roads and cities – even stadiums that still exist in Tunisia.