Horrific reports have rolled in this morning from Tunisia, as a siege on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, where a hostage situation led by gunmen in military uniforms has recently come to an end, resulted in the death of up to 22 people, reports say.
Tragically, unconfirmed reports say that one Australian was among those killed in the attack. ABC reports that Foreign Affairs minister Julie Bishop is yet to confirm the death of an Australian in the attack, as details are still emerging from the scene.
Seventeen people killed in the attack today were reportedly foreigners: ABC reports that five Japanese tourists, two Colombians, two Spaniards, two French, one Australian and one Polish tourist were among those killed in the attack by gunmen.
It is understood that the attack was carried out by two gunmen when tourists were embarking a bus to enter the Bardo museum. ABC reports that the two men began shooting as tourists made their way towards the museum, and then chased the group inside to hold up to 20 people hostage. Police and military intervention brought the siege to an end, with both gunmen reportedly dead, as well as a Tunisian police officer.
President Beji Caid Essebsi made a TV address following the attack, saying, “I want the Tunisian people to understand that we are in a war against terrorism and that these savage minorities do not frighten us.”
More on this to come as Julie Bishop seeks to confirm reports on the death of an Australian in the attack.
Defiant protests against the attacks are reportedly being staged across Tunis to denounce the horrific incident.
#Tunisia: Massive protests against the #BardoAttack taking place in downtown Tunis now | pic via @noussa_tunisie pic.twitter.com/K4XP5ASnMG
— Revolution News (@NewsRevo) March 18, 2015
Via ABC.
Lead image by Fethi Belaid via Getty.
