Tunisia attack: 27 holidaymakers killed in beach massacre at holiday resort of Sousse

At least 27 people have been killed in an attack on two hotels at a popular holiday resort on the Tunisian coast.

Holidaymakers were caught in the atrocity on the popular tourist beaches in the Al-Qantawi resort in the city of Sousse 140 kilometres south of the capital Tunis on the Mediterranean coast.

Tourists fled in terror when gunfire and explosions erupted on the beach at the resort.

Graphic pictures showed beaches littered with the corpses of people who were sunbathing moments before the attack at around midday.

Tunisian authorities confirmed a death toll of at least 27 people shortly after 1.30pm UK time.

Local media in Tunisia have reported those killed were mostly German and British tourists. Tunisian interior ministry spokesman Ali Aroui described the victims as mostly tourists but did not confirm their nationalities.

At least one gunman is reported to have been shot dead in a firefight. The other is still on the loose and is being pursued by police. The number of people injured is not immediately clear.

Attackers reportedly made their way up beaches slaughtering sunbathers near the Soviva and Imperial Marhaba hotels. Army jeeps with heavy weaponry were called in to secure a perimeter around the hotels involved after the attack.

The FCO could not immediately confirm whether any British nationals were involved.

A spokesman said: "We are looking into these reports urgently and stand ready to provide consular assistance."

The Prime Minister called an emergency meeting of COBRA in the wake of the attack.

One holidaymaker described hearing a series of explosions.

Gary Pine said he was on the beach and heard what "we thought was firecrackers going off" 100 yards away, followed by an explosion from the next hotel complex along.

"There was a mass exodus off the beach," he said, adding that his son had seen someone get shot on the beach.

He said guests at his hotel were first told to lock themselves in their rooms, and later to gather in the lobby.

Another tourist, Susan Rifkinds, on holiday in Sousse, said there were reports that people had been shot while sunbathing on their sunbeds.