Gunmen dressed in military-style clothing stormed the Bardo museum in Tunis at around midday killing eight people
At least eight people have been killed after armed gunmen stormed a museum near the Tunisian Parliament.
Two of the dead are British nationals, according to reports.
French, Spanish and Italian tourists are also believed to have been killed.
A number of hostages were also taken hostage inside the Bardo museum in the capital Tunis as security services surrounded the building.
Did you witness the Bardo museum attack?
Two of the dead are British nationals, according to reports.
French, Spanish and Italian tourists are also believed to have been killed.
A number of hostages were also taken hostage inside the Bardo museum in the capital Tunis as security services surrounded the building.
Did you witness the Bardo museum attack?
4:10 pm
Picture shows 'terrorist captured after he ran out of bullets'
A photo has emerged which reportedly shows security services with a terrorist captured during today's siege.The image, which the Mirror has not been able to verify, shows armed Tunisian police escorting a man away from the scene.
It has been claimed the man, wearing jeans, trainers and a white t-shirt covering his face, was captured when he ran out of bullets.
Although there has been mention of suspects arrested, we have not had any official confirmation.
3:36 pm
'Three other militants on the run' - Prime Minister
Prime Minister Essid has confirmed that security forces are still
hunting for "two or three" militants who also took part in the attack.It is believed five terrorists carried out the atrocity, and two have been killed.
The search for the remaining gunmen continues.
3:25 pm
Security services anxiously surround the Parliament building before hostages are rescued through a back door of the museum.
Dozens of injured people have been taken to hospital.
3:14 pm
'Tunisian MPs sang national anthem during lockdown'
Tunisian MPs were discussing a new anti-terrorism law in the adjacent
Parliament building when the attack happened today, it is believed.A photo here reveals parliamentarians being held together under lockdown after gunmen stormed the museum.
Apparently the MPs defiantly sang the national anthem as the siege continued.
3:10 pm
Prime Minister addresses Tunisia following attack
Recently-elected Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid is now addressing the nation."The fight against terrorism is a long battle. We must stand united and take responsibility for fighting terrorism," he said.
Mr Essid lists nationalities of the foreign tourists who have been killed as Italian, Polish, German, and Spanish.
There was no mention of British casualties this time.
3:02 pm
Security services have suspects under arrest and death toll 19
Interior Ministry spokesman Ali al-Aroui has just told local media that there are "suspects under arrest."The death toll has now risen to 19.
That's 17 foreigners, 2 Tunisians, and two "terrorists" in the President's words.
2:46 pm
'Gunmen opened fire on tourists as they stepped off bus'
"Two militants opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum," one Bardo employee told Reuters at the scene.
Security forces stormed the Bardo museum in central Tunis around two hours later and killed two militants, freeing all the captives.
Polish and Italian tourists were among the wounded.
One policeman was killed in the police operation.
Television footage showed dozens of people, including elderly foreigners and one man carrying a child, running for shelter in the compound next to the parliament, covered by security forces aiming rifles into the air.
An official at the Italian foreign ministry in Rome said two Italians had been wounded in the attack.
About another 100 Italians were in the area and had been taken to safety by Tunisian police.
The Polish foreign ministry spokesman said on his Twitter account during the siege that "as of now" three Polish citizens were wounded.
2:36 pm
Death toll has increased to at least 15
The death toll from the attack has increased to at least 15, according to reports.This excludes the two gunmen we have been told are also dead.
It is believed security services may have found more bodies after bringing the operation to an end.
2:29 pm
'Operation over' - Tunisian Interior Ministry
The police operation at the museum is now over, according to the Tunisian Interior Ministry.Two militants, one policeman and eight civilians make up the total number of confirmed dead.
It is understood the gunmen arrived at the museum in a car.
2:13 pm
BREAKING: 'Two attackers killed'
We are receiving reports that the two of the museum attackers have been killed.As we have seen, Tunisian security services have surrounded the building and gunfire has been heard at regular intervals.
At this point, no group has claimed responsibility for this attack.
The President of Tunisia Beji Caid Essebi is due to address the nation shortly.
2:09 pm
IMAGE: Hostages flee Bardo museum siege
Here we have some video of hostages fleeing as security services aim their rifles towards the museum.
Many are holding their hands above their heads and look utterly terrified.
2:02 pm
'21 wounded and a police officer killed'
Reports suggest 21 wounded people have also been taken to Charles-Nicole Hospital in Tunis.The Tunisian national who died is believed to have been a police officer.
1:51 pm
'There's shooting now' - French tourist during siege
Itele spoke to a French tourist called Geraldine while the attack was still going on.She was hiding on the third floor of the Bardo Museum.
Shots can be heard during the interview. We have translated her words below the video.
French tourist Geraldine said: "We are in the Bardo Museum. We were on a guided visit.
"We were on the third floor and we heard shots. There are about 40 of us locked up in a room. We can hear a lot of cries.
"We can everything, shots and then more shots. It is still carrying on.
"There are 40 of us, all French. There's shooting now, it's inside, in the museum."
Geraldine continues: "We are on a balcony with shutters. We are scared to look over the edge in case we get shot. It is very hard to see.
"Asked if she thought there was a single gunman or several, Geraldine adds:
"There is a group.It'ste shocking. The shots resound around the halls because the space is so immense. Oh my God.
"There has just been a shot, another shot. I have no idea how long we have been here, maybe half an hour."
1:48 pm
'Hostages escape as Tunisian security services provide cover'
A number of hostages have fled the Bardo museum as security services provided cover, we believe.The Foreign Office has just updated its travel advice for Tunisia:
It reads:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:
- the Chaambi Mountain National Park area
- the Tunisia-Algeria border crossing points at Ghardimaou, Hazoua and Sakiet Sidi Youssef
- the militarized zone south of, but not including, the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
- within 5km of the Libya border area from north of Dhehiba up to but not including the Ras Ajdir border crossing
- areas south of, and including, the towns of Nefta, Douz, Médenine, Zarzis (including the Tunisia-Libya border crossing point at Ras Ajdir)
- within 30km of the border with Algeria south of, and including, the town of Jendouba
- the governorate of Kasserine, including the town of Sbeitla
1:41 pm
1:35 pm
'Attackers were dressed as museum security guards'
Reports suggest the attackers may have gained entry to the museum by dressing as security officers.The Bardo museum is a high security site where ID checks and metal detection are standard practice.
Suspicions will naturally fall upon the most active extremist groups within Tunisia, the Katibat Uqba Ibn Nafi and Ansar al-Sharia.
Both groups have generally limited attacks to Tunisia's South and the regions that border Algeria, however attacks in the capital have also occurred.
The attack comes just one day after the United States Department of Defense announced the approval of a request by Tunisia to purchase eight Black Hawk helicopters for anti-terrorism operations.
The deal, which was originally proposed by the Tunisian authorities back in July of last year, was aimed at bolstering Tunisia's anti-terrorism efforts and will eventually see up to 12 Black Hawk helicopters sold to Tunisia.
1:30 pm
'Enormous panic ' - Tunisian MP
Tunisian MP Saida Ounissi tweeted a series of updates in the immediate aftermath of the attack. She wrote: "Major panic at Bardo. An armed man at the Majliss (parliament).
"The panic is enormous. It was in the middle of hearing the armed forces on anti terrorism laws.
"I was evacuated with Ameur Laraied (another MP).
"The area is being blocked off. An armed man, perhaps several, coming from the side of the museum, shots exchanged, "probably" hostages.
"There is no information at this stage on deaths, hostages and number of armed men.
"As well as MPs the Minister for Justice, judges and several members of the army were present.
"The evacuation of the Majliss is starting."
1:23 pm
'200 tourists in museum at time of the attack'
According to Tunisian radio station Mosaique FM, 200 tourists were thought to be in the museum at the time of the attack.Other reports suggest the gunmen followed a tourist bus to the musem.
1:13 pm
'Two British among dead'
Two British nationals are among the eight confirmed dead in this siege, according to reports.One French, an Italian, a Spaniard a Tunisian were also killed, local media are reporting.
1:11 pm
'European cruise ship arrived in Tunis on Wednesday'
Tourists from the ship were visiting the museum at the time of the siege.
The Bardo Museum is located in a suburb of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, and houses a collection of Roman artefacts.
12:59 pm
Foreign Office 'looking into reports British nationals among dead'
The Foreign Office is "urgently" looking into reports British nationals are among the dead.This is not confirmed, but has been suggested by local media.
Spanish, French and Italians have also been killed, it has been reported.
We will bring you the latest as we have it.
12:52 pm
'Kalashnikovs and grenades used in attack'
Local media are reporting that the gunmen used Kalashnikovs and grenades in the attack.Tunisian security services are still engaged in a gun battle, it is believed.
#AttaqueBardo #MidiShow العناصر الارهابية استعملت الكلاشنيكوف و قنابل يدوية في الهجوم
— Radio Mosaïque FM (@RadioMosaiqueFM) March 18, 2015
12:39 pm
12:36 pm
BREAKING: 'At least 8 tourists killed'
At least eight tourists have been killed in the Tunisian Parliament attacl, according to Reuters news agency.A Government official confirmed more tourists are being held in the adjacent museum.
12:35 pm
'Children held hostage inside museum'
A number of children are being held hostage inside the museum, according to local media reports.A picture has emerged on Twitter of people believed to be hostages sitting against a wall.
The total number is not known but from the picture it looks like at least 20 people are being held.
12:25 pm
'Militants storm Tunisia's parliament and hostages taken'
Militants have stormed Tunisia's parliament and have taken tourists hostage in a nearby museum, according to reportds.Shots have been fired at Tunisia's leading Bardo museum, adjacent to the national parliament building, at around midday.
Three men dressed in military-style clothing may have taken hostages inside the museum, said private radio station Radio Mosaique.
The museum chronicles Tunisia's history and includes one of the world's largest collections of Roman mosaics.
Tunisia has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists since overthrowing a dictator in 2011.