Gunmen have reportedly stormed a popular Mali tourist resort leaving two people dead, the country’s security minister, Salif Traore, has said.

Special Forces troops freed around 32 hostages seized by the attackers, RT reports.

“It is a jihadist attack. Malian special forces intervened and about 20 hostages have been released,” Salif Traore told reporters.

“Unfortunately for the moment there are two dead, including a Franco-Gabonese.”

Gunmen attacked the Campement Kangaba luxury resort in Dougourakoro, near the capital, Bamako, on Sunday afternoon, though Malian troops and soldiers from France’s Bakhane counter-terrorist force are at the scene, where the attack is said to have taken place.

The European Union training mission in Mali (EUTMMALI), also tweeted that it was aware of the attack and was supporting Malian security forces and assessing the situation.