AT least 27 people have been killed by gunmen in an attack at a popular tourist resort in Tunisia today.
It has been reported that the gunmen opened fire in two hotels in the popular coastal resort of Sousse – a hotspot for Irish tourists in the country who are among those caught up in the tragedy.
An interior minister in Tunisia has said that foreign nationals are among the dead – but nationalities have yet to be confirmed.
One gunman entered the Marhaba Sousse Hotel at around noon and opened fire – he has been shot dead by local police.
It has been confirmed by ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui that a second hotel was targeted though the name of the premises has yet to be released.
A Dublin woman, Elizabeth O’Brien, who was staying at the hotel at the time spoke to RTÉ News about what she saw.
I thought it was fireworks and then I thought 'Oh my God' it sounds like gunfire.
I ran to the sea to my children and grabbed our things and, as I was running towards the hotel, the waiters and the security on the beach started shouting 'Run, run, run'.
We ran to our room, which is like a little bungalow, so we are actually trapped in our room, because we have no contact. The phone here doesn't work to call reception.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has urged anyone who many have loved ones in the country to contact them.
The Department is aware of an incident in Sousse, Tunisia. If you have any concerns for family members there, please call 01-4082000
— DFATravel (@dfatravel) June 26, 2015
Sousse is a city on the east coast of Tunisia – about 87 miles south of the capital city, Tunis.
It is visited by about 1.2 million tourists every year.
