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U.S. couple recounts Tunisia museum attack

Two Americans who were caught in the middle of the terror attack at the Bardo museum in Tunisia are speaking out
American couple describes surviving Tunisia museum attack 02:44

Two Americans caught in the crossfire during last week's deadly terror attack in Tunisia are speaking out. The South Florida couple were inside the museum where 20 foreign tourists and three Tunisians, plus the two Tunisian gunman were killed.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, but offered not proof. Tunisia's leader says the hunt is on for a third attacker in the deadly assault. CBS News' Correspondent Jericka Duncan reports.

Manhunt in Tunisia after gunmen kill tourists at museum 02:45

Giovanna and Hector Gonzalez spent several days traveling by cruise ship from Barcelona, touring around Europe. Their last stop in Tunisia changed their lives forever.

"The minute I walked out of the bathroom, there was a bomb," Giovanna said.

The couple had set their sights on ancient artifacts and mosaics inside Tunisia's famed National Bardo Museum. But they left as survivors of a terrorist attack.

"As soon as we saw him, he was like, shooting like, everywhere," Giovanna said. "I go to my husband, 'that's an attack.'"

Surveillance footage from inside the museum shows the gunmen carrying assault rifles. The Tunisian government says two Tunisians who trained in neighboring Libya carried out the March 18 attack.

"This guy was shooting inside of the museum behind us so we started running and running," Giovanna said. "There was no way out."

After hiding in the museum for two hours the pair, from Homestead, Florida, were escorted to safety.

Their daring escape, alongside other tourists, was caught on camera.

Tunisia was the last port of call on a week-long cruise to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

They returned to the Miami airport over the weekend.

"I'm with my daughter, I'm in my house, my bed, my pillow and everything. I'm safe now," Giovanna said.

Above all, Giovanna said the ordeal taught her a lesson about traveling abroad.

"Now I know that, no matter where I go, to be careful and to learn and I have to research more, be more aware and be more careful," she said. "My life is not going to be the same, of course not."

Giovanna said security was lax inside the museum; she never saw a security guard on site.

A top Tunisian politician said major security flaws led to the bloodshed. Tunisian prosecutors say they've detained 20 people for questioning in connection to the attack.

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