Two hotels in Tunisia have been targeted in a terror attack this afternoon – killing at least 27 people, with most victims reportedly British and German.
The attackers have targeted the town of Sousse, which is popular with British holidaymakers.
One of the gunmen was killed and police are pursuing the other, said spokesman Mohammed Ali Aroui.
The Tunisian interior ministry has confirmed the death toll is currently 27, however, Aroui added that the death toll could rise.
Mr Aroui described the victims as mostly tourists but did not give any nationalities.
Local radio said those killed were mostly German and British.
Absolutely horrifying news from #Tunisia. Thinking of those affected and families worried about loved ones
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 26, 2015
At least one gunman has been killed, according to security sources, while a number of casualties have been reported.
A graphic picture has been published on social media, reportedly showing one of the victims – a man lying face down on the beach at the targeted resort.
It is believed there are scores of Irish holidaymakers in Sousse at the moment.
While Dublin’s Department of Foreign Affairs could not immediately confirm the number of citizens in the resort, it said there were no reports at this stage of any Irish hurt.
“Our embassy in Madrid and our Honorary Consul in Tunis are monitoring the situation in Sousse, Tunisia and are providing updates,” a spokeswoman said.
“We are currently not aware of any Irish citizens involved in the incident.
“Anyone with concerns about family or friends can call the Department on 01 408 2000.”
One Irish woman, Elizabeth O’Brien, is on holiday with her two sons in the resort, she described how she grabbed her children and ran for their lives when they heard gunfire erupting from one of the hotels.
“We were on the beach, my sons were in the sea and I just got out of the sea. It was about 12 o’clock and I just looked up about 500 metres from me and I saw a (hot air) balloon collapse down, then rapid firing, then I saw two of the people who were going to go up in the balloon start to run towards me – because I thought it was fireworks,” the Dubliner told RTE Radio.
“So, I thought ’oh my God, it sounds like gunfire’, so I just 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 saying ’run, run run!’ and we just ran to our room, which is like a little bungalow.
“So we are actually trapped in our room.”
Ms O’Brien said the Irish consul in Madrid, Spain, called her to say it was a terrorist attack in the hotel next door and told her to stay where she was.
“My travel agent told me to go to the reception to speak to the rep, but I’m afraid. I’m stuck in the room with my two sons, not knowing what’s going on,” she said.
The Foreign Office has confirmed it is aware of the attack and is investigating.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a failed attack on the beach in Sousse in October 2013, while 21 people lost their lives in an attack in the country earlier this year.
One Brit was killed in the terrorist attack in March at the Bardo National museum in Tunis, where gunmen stormed the tourist attraction and sparked a three-hour siege.
The country has undergone unprecedented social and political change since the 2011 uprisings and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says there is a “high“ threat from terrorism.
Maajid Nawaz, chairman of the counter-extremist Quilliam Foundation, told Sky News: “I think what has been happening in France is connected to what has been happening in Tunisia and elsewhere.
“It appears to be at the moment a coordinated attack by Isis on soft targets across the world.”
A spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said: “We are working closely with our teams in Tunisia and the relevant authorities to determine exactly what has happened and provide assistance to those affected.”
Sousse, about 90 miles from Tunis, is a popular resort for Tunisians and Europeans.
The attack comes just hours after a man was beheaded during a terror attack in France.