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| Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum raid | Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum raid |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nineteen people, including 17 foreign tourists, have been killed after gunmen targeted a museum in the Tunisian capital, the Prime Minister says. | |
| Italian, Spanish, Polish and German citizens were among those killed, as well as a Tunisian and a police officer, PM Habib Essid said. | |
| Security forces killed two gunmen and were searching for accomplices, he added. | |
| The attack happened at the Bardo Museum in central Tunis. | |
| At the time of the attack deputies in the neighbouring parliamentary building were discussing anti-terrorism legislation. Parliament was evacuated following the attack. | |
| At least 22 tourists and two Tunisians were injured in the attack, Mr Essid said. | |
| Live updates from the BBC | Live updates from the BBC |
| "It is a critical moment in our history, and a defining moment for our future," he said. | |
| "We have not established the identity of the two terrorists," he said, adding: "Reports are not final, these two terrorists could have been assisted by two or three other operatives." | |
| Security operations were "still underway", with forces "continuing to comb the area to find out the remaining operatives, if any". | |
| The remaining hostages held at the museum had been freed, Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed government official. | |
| Local media reports said British, Italian, French and Spanish nationals were among those taken hostage during the attack. | |
| Local television footage showed tourists fleeing to safety, escorted by security forces. | Local television footage showed tourists fleeing to safety, escorted by security forces. |
| A museum employee told Reuters the two attackers "opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum". | A museum employee told Reuters the two attackers "opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum". |
| French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he condemned the "terrorist attack in the strongest terms... we are very alert about how the situation is evolving", he added. | |
| Eyewitness Yasmine Ryan told the BBC there had been "a growing crowd" of at least 500 people outside the museum. | Eyewitness Yasmine Ryan told the BBC there had been "a growing crowd" of at least 500 people outside the museum. |
| She said she saw "helicopters flying overhead" and "tanks rolling in". | She said she saw "helicopters flying overhead" and "tanks rolling in". |
| The attack is a huge blow for Tunisia's tourism industry and its government, which only emerged at the end of a long political transition several months ago, the BBC's Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher reports. | |
| Islamist militants have tried to derail the democratic transition, which, although fragile, remains the most positive result in the Middle East of the Arab Spring, our correspondent adds. | |
| The Bardo museum, renowned for its collection of antiquities, is a major attraction in Tunis. | The Bardo museum, renowned for its collection of antiquities, is a major attraction in Tunis. |
| Tourism is a key sector of Tunisia's economy, with large numbers of Europeans visiting the country's resorts. | Tourism is a key sector of Tunisia's economy, with large numbers of Europeans visiting the country's resorts. |
| In 2002, 19 people, including 11 German tourists, were killed in a bomb blast at a synagogue in the resort of Djerba. Al-Qaeda said it had carried out that attack. | In 2002, 19 people, including 11 German tourists, were killed in a bomb blast at a synagogue in the resort of Djerba. Al-Qaeda said it had carried out that attack. |
| Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased in recent months as neighbouring Libya has become increasingly unstable. | Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased in recent months as neighbouring Libya has become increasingly unstable. |
| A large number of Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria and Iraq, triggering worries that returning militants could carry out attacks at home. | A large number of Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria and Iraq, triggering worries that returning militants could carry out attacks at home. |
| Are you in the area? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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