TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Authorities in Tunisia say the man who was the alleged "brain" behind twin suicide bombings that shook the capital last week was killed while being pursued by police.

Sofiane Selliti, ,a spokesman for anti-terrorism prosecutors, said Wednesday that police were chasing suspect Aymen Smiri when explosives he was carrying detonated and killed him on Tuesday night,

Interior Ministry spokesman Sofiene Zaag told Tunisian radio that police had been hunting for the 23-year-old Smiri, who he described as the "brain" behind the June 27 attacks.

The bombings killed a police officer and injured eight people. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility

The bombings hit at the heart of tourist season in Tunisia, which has been struck by a few terror attacks that threaten the country's relative political stability in the region.