ISLAMABAD - Ten foreign tourists were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Pakistan's northern area of Gilgit in the wee hours of Sunday morning, said local police on Sunday.

Deputy Inspector General of Gilgit, Ali Sher, said that the ten killed came from different countries including five from Ukraine, three from China and one from Russia with the tenth's nationality yet to be determined.

He said that the firing took place at about 12:30 am (local time) Sunday when unidentified gunmen opened fired at tourists living in a hotel at the foot of Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest mountain in the world.

Most of the killed were mountaineers, police said, adding that the hotel is located at a base camp of Nanga Parbat, in the Diamir area of Gilgit.    

An official from the Chinese Embassy to Pakistan, who asked to remain anonymous, told Xinhua that they have learned about the news and are contacting the concerned departments to know about more details.

Both Pakistani president and prime minister have condemned the attack.

No group has claimed the responsibility for the attack yet.