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Members of the Tunisian security services take up positions after gunmen reportedly took hostages near the country’s parliament, outside the National Bardo Museum in Tunis, Tunisia

TUNIS. — Nineteen people, including 17 foreign tourists have been killed after gunmen targeted a museum in the Tunisian capital, the Prime Minister says. Italian, Spanish and German citizens were among those killed, PM Habib Essid said.

Two attackers and a police officer were killed in the subsequent security operation, officials said.

The attack 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.

British, Italian, French and Spanish nationals were among those taken hostage during the attack, local radio reported.

The remaining hostages held at the museum had been freed, Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed government official.

Local television footage showed tourists fleeing to safety, escorted by security forces.

Earlier, interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told journalists that the attack involved “two or more terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs”.

A museum employee told Reuters the two attackers “opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum”.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he condemned the “terrorist attack in the strongest terms . . . we are very alert about how the situation is evolving,” he added. — BBC.