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An Irish woman in her 50s is feared among the 28 dead following a terrorist attack in Tunisia today.

The death is yet to be confirmed officially, but RTE is reporting that she is from Meath.

Her husband, who was holidaying with her, has already been in touch with authorities in Ireland, according to thejournal.ie, which cites Fine Gael TD Ray Butler's constituency office as its source.

Sundayworld.com carries quotes from Ray Butler, who says he has spoken to the woman's husband. "He is absolutely distraught," the politician stated. “This was the hardest phone call I’ve ever taken. My heart goes out to the family who are enduring unthinkable grief.”

Local radio in Meath has also reported the death.

Today's attack, which began at around noon, took place at two busy hotels in the popular seaside resort town of Sousse.

Abbeytravel.ie, Budgettravel.ie and Sunway.ie all offer packages to the area from Irish airports.

As well as the 28 fatalities, another 36 are believed to be injured, according to Tunisian national television. The dead are said to include tourists from Britain, Germany and Belgium.

Witnesses to the attack have been expressing their fear and astonishment via social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. 

So far, no organisation has claimed responsibility for the incident. However, the region is hugely popular with European sun-seekers and boasts numerous nightclubs and bars – something which Islamist jihadists condemn.

Tourism is a major source of income for the Tunisian government, and the country is widely viewed as the most liberal in the region.     

Still, in March, a terrorist attack at the famed Bardo National Museum in central Tunis killed some 24 people – including four Italian tourists, three French and one Briton. Many others were injured.    

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A shocking terrorism attack has taken place at a Tunisian resort popular with Irish visitors. Several fatalities are now being reported by local media.

A pair of gunmen shot dead at least 27 people in the attack, which was aimed at two of the busiest tourist hotels in Sousse in north-eastern Tunisia.

The town is extremely popular with Irish tourists, with the likes of Sunway.ie frequently offering package holidays to the area.

Many tourists were on the beach at the time and ran to take refuge in their hotel rooms once they heard gun shots.

RTE Radio spoke to Dublin woman Elizabeth O’Brien, who is currently holidaying in the region with her two sons.

She told RTE listeners how she was forced to grab her children and run when she heard gunfire: “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 500metres 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.

“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.”

Another man, John Yeoman from Britain, has been tweeting his fear and astonishment at what unfolded around him.

"There has been a shooting on the beach at our hotel it's been going on for 20 mins," he said a little after noon today. He later added: "We were in the pool when we heard automatic gun fire. People ran past saying there was an armed man on the beach." 

He was forced to barricade himself into his hotel room using a bed and other furniture, and shared an image of his efforts online.

A terrorist attack took place on March 18 of this year at the famed Bardo National Museum in central Tunis. Some 24 people were killed in that attack – including four Italian tourists, three French and one Briton. Many others were injured.

The Department of Foreign Affairs does not recommend that Irish tourists should avoid the country entirely, but it says that caution is needed.

Indeed, the dfa.ie website warns: “The presence of extremist elements in Tunisia, as well as instability in neighbouring Libya, mean that there is a heightened threat of terrorism in Tunisia.”

It adds: “Irish citizens should maintain a high level of security awareness, monitor the local media closely and follow the instructions of the Tunisian authorities and tour operators.”

There is no Irish embassy in Tunisia, but there is an honorary consul.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has furthermore said that Irish people concerned for family members in Sousse can call 01 408 2000.

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