Tunisia shooting: 21 killed in Bardo museum attack; 2-3 gunmen at large

Tunis, March 18: At least 21 people have been killed in an attack in a museum near the Tunisian Parliament and dozens of the foreign toursits have been held hostages on Wednesday, March 18 evening.

Tunisia's prime minister confirmed that 21 people are dead after an attack on a major museum, including 17 foreign tourists, and that two or three of the attackers remain at large.

Habib Essid told national television that the foreigners included tourists from Poland, Italy, Germany and Spain.

He said that two of the attackers were killed in a gunfight with police, and that security forces are hunting for two or three others believed to have been involved.

The attack was the worst in years on a tourist site in Tunisia, which is struggling to solidify its young democracy and prevent violence by Islamic extremists.

Seventeen foreigners were killed, as were a Tunisian security officer and a cleaning woman, the interior ministry spokesman said.

Gunmen dressed as soldiers held people as hostages inside a museum in Tunisia. Seriously injured were taken to hospital.

Following the deadly incident, Tunisian Parliament was evacuated.

160 tourists were repprtedly evacuated by the security forces through rear of museum.

OneIndia News