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Five police officers have been injured in a suicide attack outside the United States embassy in Tunisia, authorities have confirmed.

Two men, who were on a motorbike, approached the embassy in the Tunisian capital of Tuni, and detonated suicide vests.

Initial reports of a "large explosion" sparked attack fears on Twitter, with one Tunisian national tweeting: “An explosion has just taken place next to the American embassy in Tunis, at a check point.

"According to initial reports, it was a suicide attack."

Moments after the bombing the US Embassy confirmed the attack in a Tweet: "Emergency personnel are responding to an explosion that occurred near the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. Please avoid the area and monitor local media for updates."

The Interior Ministry later confirmed two suicide bombers were killed carrying out the attack, and five police were injured, but did not reveal any other details.

Dramatic pictures from the scene show a cordoned off area, with what looks like debris from an explosion around it.

Footage filmed outside the embassy also shows a large police presence in the area, with 12 armed officers patrolling the road.

The Foreign Office urged Brits inside Tunisia to "remain vigilant" and in a travel update, said: "The British Embassy Tunis is in contact with local authorities and urgently seeking further information following reports of a suicide bombing near the US embassy in Tunis.

"If you’re in the area, remain vigilant and follow the advice of the local security authorities."

Last year, two suicide bombers blew themselves in the capital of Tunisia, with one person dead.

In June 2015 30 British holidaymakers were killed during an attack in Sousse by Seifeddine Rezgui.

Rezgui killed 38 people in total and Tunisian security forces shot him dead on site.

The North Afircan nation has been battling militant groups operating in remote areas near the border since 2011.

The main terrorist threat is Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Libya-based extremists.