At least seven foreign tourists and a Tunisian have been killed after gunmen targeted a museum in the the Tunisian capital, officials say.
Tourists from several European countries were taken hostage, a local radio station reported.
The shooting 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. Parliament has now been evacuated.
An interior ministry spokesman told Reuters that two militants were holed up inside the museum, surrounded by security forces.
Some hostages had been freed but others were still being held, radio station Mosaique FM reported, citing an interior ministry spokesman.
The museum, renowned for its collection of antiquities, is a major tourist attraction in Tunis.
Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased as neighbouring Libya has become increasingly unstable.
A large number of Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria and Iraq, triggering worries that returning militants could carry out attacks at home.