Two suicide bombers blew themselves up near the US embassy in the Tunisian capital on Friday, wounding five police officers, the interior ministry said.

A ministry statement said the attackers in Tunis both died, while a civilian was slightly injured. One of the five injured police officers was in a critical condition, according to a lawmaker.

Security units were placed on a state of maximum alert, the ministry said. Hundreds of police swarmed around the scene and sharpshooters were visible on the roofs of nearby buildings.

Yosri Dali, the head of the armed forces and security commission, confirmed eyewitness reports that the attackers were on a motorcycle. He said in an interview with Radio Mosaïque that they blew themselves up when a police patrol stopped them to ask where they were going.

Read more: The Guardian (UK)