These shocking pictures show bodies strewn across a popular beach after dozens of tourists were killed in a horrifying terror attack in Tunisia today.

At least 27 people have been killed in a terror attack on hotels in a popular Tunisian tourist resort.

The horrifying images show the devastating scene on the beach following the attack.

A gunman has been killed with British holidaymakers sharing their terror on social media.

Another suspected terrorist in now being pursued by authorities.

Terrorist attack in sousse, tunisia
Terrorist attack in sousse, tunisia 

Initially tourists thought the noise from the shots were firecrackers, but the resort has been gripped by panic since they realised they were gunshots.

The attack was on the Imperial Marhaba hotel, local radio stations have said.

One wrote on Twitter: "Actual terrorist attack on the beach next to my hotel. Gunshots and grenades going off all over the place.

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"Sat in the pool and hear a noise like a gun, then an explosion then multiple shots and staff getting us back to the rooms."

The city is on holiday operator Thomson's list of prime destinations for Brits and the hotel has air-conditioned rooms, balconies, satellite TV and round-the-clock room service.

The Foreign Office has no-go zones for Tunisia but advises British travellers the north-eastern section, where the resort city is, is relatively safe.

People gather close to the beach following the attack 

An eyewitness at the Palm Marina Hotel near Sousse, told Sky: "My sister was talking to someone who had seen some people shooting and had shot someone on a sun bed but we don't know if that's true.

"It sounded like a machine gun going off... and there was a kind of explosion a little bit later.

"They're saying its going on in the hotel next to us. Police were chasing some men, that's all I know."

One tourist who heard an explosion while sunbathing by the pool told Sky News: "We heard people saying there were guns on the beach and people were shooting on the beach. I don't know what's going on.

"I went to reception and they said the police have told us to get everyone inside.

"About five minutes ago I saw some people running. There are some people on the roof but I think that's a representative from the hotel.

"No one is injured that I can see."

The resort is on the north east coast of the African country and the city's medieval fortress and mosque are a world heritage site.

This map shows the location of the attack 

Tunisia has been on high alert since March when Islamist militant gunmen attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis.

They killed a group of foreign tourists in one of the worst attacks in a decade in the North African country.

Another Brit who has locked himself in his hotel room told Sky: "We were sat by the swimming pool and all of a sudden saw people running towards the hotel.

"The beach is a 2/3minute walk from the hotel. We were half way between the pool and the hotel and heard an explosion.

"We don't know what's going on. We heard people saying there were people shooting on the beach. I don't know Police told us to get inside."

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Tunisia hotel guest describes panic amid reports of terror attack