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Security forces were surrounding at least two militants in the Bardo museum in central Tunis, a venue that is often packed with foreigners, the interior ministry spokesman added.
Updated : Mar 18, 2015, 10:11 PM IST
Attackers opened fire on Wednesday at a major museum in Tunisia's capital, gunning down 17 tourists as dozens more sprinted to safety. At least 21 people in all were killed, including two gunmen, but some attackers may have escaped, authorities said.
The attack on the famed National Bardo Museum in Tunis was the first on a tourist site in years in Tunisia, a shaky young democracy that has struggled to keep Islamic extremist violence at bay.
It was not clear who the attackers were but security forces immediately flooded the area. Tunisia's parliament building, next to the museum, was evacuated.
Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said 21 people were killed: 17 tourists, two gunmen, a Tunisian security officer and a Tunisian cleaning woman. He said the dead tourists came from Italy, Poland, Germany and Spain.
He said two or three of the attackers remained at large.
Live Updates:
Tunisia premier says 21 killed in museum attack
At least 21 people were killed, including 17 foreign tourists, when militants attacked Tunisia's Bardo museum in the capital Tunis, Prime Minister Habib Essid said on Wednesday.
A Tunisian citizen and a policeman also died in the attack, Essid said.
Attack appalling & condemnable: Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the attack appalling & condemnable and said, "We stand firmly with the people of Tunisia in this hour of grief & pray normalcy returns soon."
Attack in Tunisia is appalling & condemnable. We stand firmly with the people of Tunisia in this hour of grief & pray normalcy returns soon.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 18, 2015
Tunisian museum attack: Two gunmen, policeman killed, say reports
French PM says France standing by Tunisian government after attack
In the aftermath of an attack in which at least eight tourists were killed, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said, " We are condemning this terrorist attack in the strongest terms," Valls said speaking after a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels."
"We are standing by the Tunisian government. We are very alert about how the situation is evolving," he added.
The scene of the Bardo compound in Tunisia as hostages escape terror attack.
Here is the scene at the Bardo compound in Tunisia as hostages escape terror attack pic.twitter.com/d05GbuiA6T
— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) March 18, 2015
We have no fear. We are not afraid. tweeted Tunisian MP Saida Ounissi
In a series of tweets, Tunisian MP Saida Ounissi said the Panic is huge. In full hearing of the armed forces on anti terrorism law.
"I was evacuated with Ameur Laraied," she tweeted.
She further added, "The area is being blocked. A gunman, perhaps many, the museum side of exchanged gunfire, hostages 'probably'. In addition to deputies, the Minister of Justice, judges and several army officers were present. The evacuation of majliss (legislative councils) began. We have no fear. We are not afraid.
Borzou Daragahi, Middle East and North Africa correspondent for Financial Times tweeted saying, "8 dead in #Tunisia Bardo museum hostage-taking include 2 Britons, 1 French, 1 Italian, 1 Spaniard, 1 Tunisian and 2 unknown"
BREAKING: 8 dead in #Tunisia Bardo museum hostage-taking include 2 Britons, 1 French, 1 Italian, 1 Spaniard, 1 Tunisian and 2 unknown
— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) March 18, 2015
According to reports, number of children are being held hostage inside the museum.
Crazy to think we can watch a hostage taking live on Twitter. "@moezrdf: #AttaqueBardo #AttackBardo #BardoMuseum pic.twitter.com/aLhaC0f1cv"
— Mohamed El Dahshan (@eldahshan) March 18, 2015
Tunisian journalist Mourad Teyeb claims on Twitter that seven of the eight dead are tourists, and another a Tunisia.
#Tunisia - 7 #tourists , 1 #Tunisian die in #Bardo gunfire , 2 armed people surrounded by police - Sources pic.twitter.com/ZaWJPh5APf
— Mourad Teyeb (@MouradTeyeb) March 18, 2015
Background
Tunisia, whose 2011 uprising against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali inspired "Arab Spring" revolts in Egypt, Syria and Libya, has up to now largely avoided the chaos and violence that has plagued those countries.
But Tunisia's armed forces have been fighting Islamist militants who emerged after the uprising.
Several thousand Tunisians have also left the country to fight for militant groups in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and the government is worried about returning jihadis carrying out attacks at home.