News / North Africa

Hotels attacked in Tunisia’s Sousse, 38 killed: Official

Friday, 26 June 2015 11:35 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 June 2015 3:10 AM ]

First responders are seen carrying a victim of a shooting attack in Tunisia, June 26, 2015.

Some 38 people, including foreign nationals, have been killed and tens of others injured in an attack by unidentified armed men on a tourist resort in the central Tunisian town of Sousse.

Tunisian Prime Minister Minister Habib Essid announced the death toll after two assailants opened fire on a beach resort near hotels in Port El Kantaoui tourist complex, located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) north of Sousse on Friday.

According to the Tunisian ministry, British, German and Belgian nationals were among the dead.

At least 36 others were injured in the attack.

An exchange of gunfire reportedly broke out between the attackers and security forces. Reports say one of the gunmen was shot dead and the other managed to flee.

The Takfiri ISIL terror group later claimed responsibility for the fatal assault.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack.

Tunisia has been on high alert since March 18, when a group of gunmen attacked the national Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis, killing 21 people. As many as 17 of the victims killed in the attack were foreign tourists.

An image grab taken from closed circuit television footage released by the Tunisian Interior Ministry on March 21, 2015 reportedly shows the two gunmen (R) who attacked Tunisia’s National Bardo Museum holding their guns in a room as a man (L) runs out of the museum. (© AFP)

Two of the attackers were reportedly killed. Two or three of the gunmen are still at large as security forces have launched a manhunt for the suspects.

The March attack, which was also claimed by the ISIL, has been described as one of the worst in a decade in the North African country

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