Nearly 30 people, mostly tourists, have been killed and tens of others injured after unidentified armed men launched an attack in a tourist resort in the central Tunisian resort town of Sousse.
Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui said 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 official, 27 people were killed in the shooting assault.
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 one managed to flee the scene.
Aroui said most of the victims in the “terrorist attack” were tourists, without giving their nationalities. However, local media said those killed were mostly German and British nationals.
No individual or group immediately claimed responsibility for the act of terror.
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.
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 ISIL Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack described as one of the worst in a decade in the North African country