ATTACK IN TUNIS – AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  Details on this are just coming in.  From the BBC:

At least seven foreign tourists and a Tunisian have been killed after gunmen targeted a museum in the Tunisian capital, officials say.

British, Italian, French and Spanish nationals were among those taken hostage, local radio 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.

"A terrorist attack [targeted] the Bardo Museum," interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told journalists.

He said that the attack involved "two or more terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs".

Most tourists were evacuated but some were still believed to be inside, Mr Aroui said, adding that security forces had entered the museum.

COMMENT:  Attacking tourists is an old terrorist technique.  Countries like Tunisia are heavily dependent on the tourist trade.  If tourists are frightened off, the economies of these countries can suffer substantially.

We'll follow this.  We don't yet know what group is responsible.

March 18, 2015