A member of the security forces was reportedly killed in the raid.
#Breaking Two gunmen and one officer killed in a security raid after a museum attack in Tunisia - Interior Ministry (@AP)
— Press Association (@pressassoc) March 18, 2015
Tunisia terror attack: 19 dead after gunmen storm museum
This article is more than 9 years old
- Death toll at Bardo museum in Tunis includes 17 European tourists
- A Tunisian security officer and cleaning woman were also shot dead
- Two gunmen were killed but are believed to have had at least two accomplices
- A further 24 were injured, including 22 tourists
Updated
Wed 18 Mar 2015 14.13 EDT
First published on Wed 18 Mar 2015 09.06 EDTLive feed
Key events
All hostages have been freed by Tunisian forces, Reuters reports, citing an official.
Interior ministry says siege over
Al-Jazeera is also reporting that the Interior Ministry says the siege is over, two gunmen having been killed.
Black-clad police snipers are on the rooftops and bastions of the ancient Bardot castle which forms part of the complex housing the museum where at least 20 foreigners are being held hostage.
A helicopter is thundering low overhead making circles over the museum, which is adjacent to the Assemblie National, the parliament. In the last few minutes troops in armoured green Humvee armored personnel carriers have driven into the complex. Several hundred people are gathered outside the wrought iron gates of the complex, the air echoing to the sirens of police cars and ambulances.
The attack comes a day after Tunisia announced a major seizure of weapons from Jihadist groups, triggering speculation that the museum attack may have been launched by jihadist groups in revenge.
The FT’s Middle Eastern correspondent says the operation is over and the attackers are dead.
BREAKING: #Tunisia state television cites MoI as saying kidnappers in Bardo terror attack dead, operation over
— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) March 18, 2015
This map shows the location of the attack in Tunisia:
This pro-ISIS account: @riif0BA9 tweeted this a few hours ago: http://t.co/Djcg8Miqsu (translation in next tweet): pic.twitter.com/mOCz8uWEea
— Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) March 18, 2015
"Coming good news to #Tunisia's Muslims, and a shock to the disbelievers and the hypocrites, especially those who claim to be cultured."
— Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) March 18, 2015
This is an amateur video apparently showing Tunisian Swat forces deploying in the scene:
Respected Tunisian blogger Lina Ben Mhenni has written a message of defiance.
Certainly, Tunisia has been sullied, bloodied, and seriously injured, but Tunisian women and men will resist this wave of barbary and terrorism. We will never surrender. Tunisia will live and will reject you and reject your violence!
Here is the scene at the Bardo compound in Tunisia as hostages escape terror attack pic.twitter.com/d05GbuiA6T
— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) March 18, 2015
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