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Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum raid | Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum raid |
(about 1 hour 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. | Italian, Spanish, Polish and German citizens were among those killed, as well as a Tunisian and a police officer, PM Habib Essid said. |
Media reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 22. | |
Security forces killed two gunmen and were searching for accomplices, the prime minister said. | |
The attack happened at the Bardo Museum in central Tunis. | 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 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. | 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 |
Italian, Polish, Spanish, South African, French and Japanese tourists were among the injured, Mosaique FM radio reported. | |
Mr Essid said: "It is a critical moment in our history, and a defining moment for our future." | |
"We have not established the identity of the two terrorists... 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", he said. | |
The remaining hostages held at the museum had been freed, Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed government official. | The remaining hostages held at the museum had been freed, Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed government official. |
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". |
'Tanks rolling in' | |
Eyewitness Yasmine Ryan told the BBC there had been "a growing crowd" of at least 500 people outside the museum following the attack. | |
She said she saw "helicopters flying overhead" and "tanks rolling in" as the security situation unfolded. | |
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. | 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 of the Arab Spring in the Middle East, our correspondent adds. | |
The Bardo National Museum | |
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini offered her condolences (in French) to the victims' families, | |
"The EU is determined to mobilise all the tools it has to fully support Tunisia in the fight against terrorism," she added. | |
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. |
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