Tunisian security forces stormed a museum rich with antiquities and killed two gunmen after a terror attack left 18 people dead, Tunisian authorities said.
Prime Minister Habib Essid said a manhunt was underway for two or three more gunmen, the Associated Press reported. Essid said 17 of those killed were tourists. A cleaning woman also died in the attack.
Government spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroul said at least two gunmen armed with automatic weapons shot their way into the building, killing tourists and taking hostages. Two gunmen and one security officer died in the operation to retake the building, Ali Aroul said.
Security officials were sweeping the area in an effort to ensure the surrounding area, which includes the nation's parliament building, was secure.
"A terrorist attack (targeted) the Bardo Museum," Aroui said, according to Al Aribiyaand other news outlets. Aroui said "two or more terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs" were involved, and that most tourists were quickly evacuated.
At least six people were wounded, the Associated Press reported. Poland's foreign ministry said three Polish nationals were among them, the Guardian reported,
British, Italian, French and Spanish nationals were among those taken hostage, theBBC reported, citing local radio reports.
The Bardo Museum is adjacent to the country's parliament in the capital Tunis. Initial reports had stated that exchanges of gunfire were heard at the parliament building, which was evacuated.
Anti-terrorism legislation was being discussed in parliament when the attack took place, the BBC reported. Tunisia has struggled with violence by Islamic extremists since mass protests ousted President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.Tunisia adopted a constitution in 2014 that guaranteed rights for women and mandated that the president's religion be Islam.
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