TheCable

About seventeen tourists and two Tunisians were killed on Wednesday during an attack on Bardo museum, which is next to the parliamentary building of Tunisia.

The museum is a leading tourist attraction that houses Tunisia’s history and one of the world’s largest collections of Roman mosaics.

The attack happened when lawmakers were reportedly discussing anti-terrorism legislation.

According to Sayida Ounissi, a member of the parliament, top government officials were at the location during the incident.

“In addition to members of parliament, the minister of justice, some judges, and several high level army offices were at the location,” she wrote on Twitter.

“The neighbourhood is in the process of being cordoned off; there is one armed man, maybe several on the museum side, there has been exchange of gunfire and probably hostages.”

Mohamed Ali Aroui, spokesman of the interior ministry, confirmed the attack but failed to disclose the nationalities of other victims involved.

He further said that the attack involved “two or more terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs”, but added that security forces have been deployed to contain the situation.

Some of the hostages

According to Al jazeera, about 200 tourists managed to escape, while others have been held hostage.

Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased as neighbouring Libya has become increasingly unstable.