A Shadow Over the Cap BonIn the late 1980s, a wave of unprecedented terror swept across Tunisia, forever shattering the nation’s sense of security. At the center of this dark chapter was Naceur Dammak,
a man with a troubled past who would soon become known to the public as “The Monster of Nabeul.” Between 1988 and 1990, Dammak evolved into a nightmare that haunted the streets of Nabeul, the Cap Bon region, and the capital, Tunis.
The Anatomy of a Predator
Dammak’s modus operandi was as simple as it was ruthless. He specifically preyed on the most vulnerable: young children and teenage boys. Operating with chilling calculation, he lured his victims using basic deceptions—offering them small amounts of money, proposing a game, or simply asking for their help with a task. Once he gained their trust,
he led them to isolated areas such as dense forests or abandoned agricultural lands. There, far from the safety of their homes, he committed unspeakable assaults before ending their lives and burying their bodies in shallow graves to conceal his atrocities
A Nation Paralyzed by Fear
As the number of missing children climbed to thirteen, a profound panic gripped Tunisian society. The once-lively neighborhoods fell silent. The sight of children playing freely in the streets became a memory of the past, as terrified parents kept their sons and daughters locked safely indoors. The invisible threat of a roaming serial killer forced a sudden and grim shift in the daily routines of countless families.
The Net Closes: Capture and Confession
The mounting reports of disappearances, all sharing the same eerie similarities, triggered an intense and massive manhunt by Tunisian security forces. In 1990, the authorities finally managed to apprehend Dammak. Faced with the undeniable weight of the investigation, the killer confessed to his gruesome spree. In a chilling conclusion to the search, he personally guided the police to the desolate locations where he had buried his young victims
The End of an Era: A Historic Execution
The justice system moved decisively against the man who had held a nation hostage to fear. Naceur Dammak was sentenced to death for his heinous crimes. In 1994, the sentence was officially carried out. Beyond bringing a grim closure to the victims’ families, this event marked a highly significant turning point in the country’s legal history: Dammak’s death stands as the last execution ever carried out in Tunisia, as the state has since maintained a de facto moratorium on the death penalty.
elwej.com
The Sisters Who Hid 17 Bodies Under Their Floor
