Two Britons are feared dead after gunmen stormed a museum in Tunisia today, killing eight people and taking another 30 hostage.
Seven of those killed were foreigners, with unconfirmed reports suggesting two were Britons as well as French, Spanish and Italian being among the dead.
The country's parliament, which sits adjacent to the country's Bardo Museum, was today filled with leading politicians and swiftly evacuated after the shooting broke out.
It is believed several hundred people may have fled the museum, while another 20 - 30 remaining as hostages with three shooters controlling the building.
Local authorities say anti-terrorist security have now entered the museum and engaged the terrorists.
Tunisia's parliament was evacuated, with a number of prominent politicians rushed from the area
The museum, built within a 15th-century palace, is the largest museum in Tunisia with collections covering two floors.
The museum is near the North African country's parliament, some four kilometres (two-and-a-half miles) from the city centre. A new wing with contemporary architecture was built as part of a 2009 renovation, doubling the surface area. Some 8,000 works are displayed in the museum, according to the website.
The attack comes the day after Tunisian security officials confirmed the death in neighbouring Libya of a leading suspect in Tunisian terror attacks and the killings of two opposition figures in Tunisia.
Ahmed Rouissi gained the nickname of the 'black box of terrorism'. The information on his death was made public by security officials giving evidence in parliament and cited by the official TAP news agency.
Libya, which has devolved into chaos, is a source of major concern for Tunisia.
Also a major worry is the Mount Chaambi area on the border with Algeria where al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has reportedly been helping a Tunisian group which has killed numerous soldiers.
source:mailonline
this is just terrible
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