The El Ghriba Synagogue is an important building for the Jewish community on the Tunisian island of Djerba. © Hasan Mrad/IMAGESLIVE via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The perpetrator is apparently a security officer. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Tunis - At least four people have been killed in an attack on a synagogue in Tunisia. In addition to two visitors to the Jewish place of worship, a security guard and the attacker himself were killed in the incident on the island of Djerba, the interior ministry of the North African country said late yesterday evening.
According to the report, a security officer first killed a colleague and then "arbitrarily" shot in front of the synagogue. The attacker was eventually killed by security forces. Four other believers and five security guards were also injured. Investigations were underway to the course of the crime and the background, it said.
The Jewish festival Lag Baomer is taking place in the synagogue these days, to which many believers from Israel and numerous other countries travel to Tunisia every year. According to Israeli media reports, around 1000,<> people were in the house of worship during the attack.
Tunisia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, but exceptionally allows its citizens into the country as part of organized tours for the festival. A total of 2002 people were killed in an attack on the same synagogue by the Islamist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in 20, including 14 German tourists. Dpa