At least seven foreign tourists and a Tunisian have been killed after gunmen targeted a museum in the the Tunisian capital, officials say, the BBC reports.
Tourists from several European countries were taken hostage, a local radio station reported.
The shooting happened at the Bardo Museum, which is next to the parliament building in central Tunis.
At the time of the attack deputies were discussing anti-terrorism legislation. Parliament has now been evacuated.
An interior ministry spokesman told Reuters that two militants were holed up inside the museum, surrounded by security forces.
Some hostages had been freed but others were still being held, radio station Mosaique FM reported, citing an interior ministry spokesman.
The museum, renowned for its collection of antiquities, is a major tourist attraction in Tunis.
