At least 27 people were killed in an attack at a coastal Tunisia hotel frequented by tourists. One of several gunman who reportedly landed by boat was killed and others were being sought.
The gunmen fired on the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba in the coastal city of Sousse, and two other hotels may also have come under attack,
reported Al Jazeera. Local media said the gunmen appeared to target tourists at the hotel and the death toll was expected to rise.
A witness vacationing about a mile from the scene told
CNN she saw bloodied bodies on the sand at a beach and people from nearby hotels jumping over to fences to reach her hotel. She said hotel guests pushed mattresses against doors of their rooms to slow possible intruders.
"I am in the lobby of our hotel at the moment. We have no information," Russian tourist Pyotr Chervonets told the
BBC Russian News Service. "Members of staff also don't know what is happening. Beach is not fenced. Anyone can go out there, but security personnel make everyone stay in the hotel. Terrorists attacked people at the beach. They came on a boat. From the beach they ran to the Hotel Imperial Marhaba."
Another witness, Amanda Roberts from Swansea, told CNN she originally heard a muffled sound and then saw police arrive on horseback to confront the gunmen.
"Scuffles took place, people jumping over walls and there was a sound of gunfire. Someone said 'run for your life' and we just concentrated on getting back to our hotel safely," Roberts said. "Also, my family has sustained injuries to our feet. Luckily we were able to receive treatment from a doctor. We're feeling very shaken but at least we're still alive."
United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron posted a message on Twitter condemning the attack on the Tunisia hotel as well as what appears to be similar attacks in France and Kuwait.
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