Tourists among the victims in Tunisian hotel

The attack took place at a popular Tunisian beach resort AFP

At least 37 people – including British, Belgian and German nationals – were killed in an attack on a hotel in the Tunisian beach resort of Sousse, a spokesman for the Tunisian health ministry said on Friday. The Swiss Foreign Ministry was waiting to hear whether Swiss citizens were involved.

The attack took place on Friday afternoon at the Imperial Marhaba hotel, according to a local security source at the scene and local radio.

A gunman was shot and killed at the scene in an exchange of gunfire with police. According to a witness, the marksman was a young man who was dressed as a tourist and carried a Kalashnikov hidden in an umbrella.

In a tweet, the Swiss cabinet’s spokesman, André Simonazzi, said: “Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga expresses condolences for the victims of the attack: we must fight against intolerance and extremism, and cannot let ourselves be intimidated.”

The Swiss foreign ministry updated its online travel advisory for Tunisia on Friday to include the event:

“There is a risk of terrorist acts throughout the country, with the risk of attacks against foreigners increasing as a result of regional events. On June 26, 2015, an attack on a hotel in Sousse/Port Kantaoui led to numerous fatalities and injuries.”

Tunisia has been on high alert since March 18, when Islamist militant gunmen attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis, taking hostages and killing a group of foreign tourists in one of the worst attacks in a decade in the North African country.  

The country has been unstable since the fall of President Ben Ali in January 2011.

Sousse is one of Tunisia’s most popular beach resorts, drawing visitors from Europe and neighbouring North African countries.