Tunisia: Attack on Synagogue

Regarding the previously-reported attack at Ghriba: 4 dead in a shooting on Djerba Tuesday night on a Tunisian synagogue, below is our translation of a French-language report from La Presse (Tunisia). This attack apparently occurred during some sort of annual pilgrimage to the synagogue on the island of Djerba. The article mentions that in 2002, there was a suicide attack on the same mosque that led to the deaths of 21 people.

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The assailant, a security guard who killed his colleague while using his service pistol, and who took a submachine gun and ammunition from a naval post of the National Guard at Aghir, was killed by police.

The island of Djerba, the jewel of Tunisian tourism, which was living to the rhythm of the Jewish pilgrimage of Ghriba, has experienced a terrorist attack that produced 4 deaths, including the perpetrator of the criminal act.

In a press release from the Interior Ministry, it was reported that a police officer “killed his colleague Tuesday evening at the naval post of the National  Guard at the port of Aghir at Djerba, using his individual weapon and taking ammunition”. The perpetrator, putting on a bullet-proof vest, got on a police quad (rough terrain vehicle or bike) and then attempted to gain access to the synagogue of Ghriba and deliberately opened fire indiscriminately at the security units stationed at the scene, who responded and took him down before he could penetrate into the synagogue.

“In addition to the fallen martyred policeman, we also deplore two deaths among the visitors of the pilgrimage to Ghriba,” stated the Interior Ministry. Six security agents were hit, and four other persons were injured. All of the injured were transported to a hospital to receive necessary care. Their wounds are considered more or less serious.

The area of the synagogue was sealed off by police, its interior and exterior spaces secured, and the situation is at hand, according to the press statement of the Interior Ministry. An investigation has been opened and the investigations will continue to determine, “the reasons behind this treacherous and cowardly attack” the statement notes.

In a statement to the TV channel, El Watania, Perez Trabelsi, president of the Synagogue of El Ghriba Association, stated that “the police have managed the situation well and confined the worshippers within the synagogue for their protection.” He added that “the island of Djerba has recovered its calm.”

In effect, the security forces have succeeded in avoiding a much bloodier toll given the high number (more than 7,000) for the pilgrimage of Ghriba.

In a statement from the Quai d’Orsay (French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs), France has stated it has learned “with consternation and profound sadness the attack perpetrated at Djerbe, in a Ghriba synagogue, which has cost the lives of four persons including a compatriot, as well as worshippers and members of the Tunisian security forces.” 

Paris condemns this odious act with the greatest firmness and” sends its most sincere condolences to the victims’ families and expresses all of its solidarity with the Tunisian people and the Tunisian authorities. Our embassy and our services are mobilized to offer their support to the family of our compatriot and our fellow citizens affected by this attack.” 

France also salutes, “the rapid intervention of the Tunisian security forces, “and stands with Tunisia in continuing the fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of fanaticism,” the press release stated.

It is worth mentioning that social media relayed information on an exchange of gunfire at the island’s port, and several users who were present at the locations at the moment of the attack posted videos of scenes of chaos and fear among the worshippers and showing the quickness of the security forces in protecting them. It is also worth remembering that this hateful act perpetrated during an annual Jewish pilgrimage, brings back memories of the suicide attack that caused 21 deaths in this same synagogue in 2002.