Shock Attack at Tunisia Pilgrimage: First Assault on Foreigners Since 2015
Police Officer Turns Killer at Historic Synagogue
Tunisia was rocked when a police officer opened fire at the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba, killing two foreign visitors — a 30-year-old Tunisian and a 42-year-old French national. The officer also gunned down two fellow cops before security forces shot him dead. The victims’ full identities remain under wraps.
The attacker reportedly killed a colleague first to seize ammunition, sparking chaos among hundreds of pilgrims. Four visitors and five officers were injured in the terrifying rampage.
France and US Condemn ‘Heinous Act’
Investigation into the motive is ongoing, but Tunisia’s interior ministry stopped short of calling it terrorism. Meanwhile, the French and US governments slammed the attack.
“We condemn this heinous act,” said Anne-Claire Legendre, French foreign ministry spokeswoman. US State Department’s Matthew Miller tweeted his condolences to Tunisia and praised the quick response by security forces.
Historic Pilgrimage Shadowed by Violence
The Ghriba synagogue pilgrimage is a major event for the Jewish community, drawing over 5,000 faithful worldwide. This year’s event was the first since the pandemic forced a two-year pause.
Once home to 100,000 Jews before Tunisia’s 1956 independence, the community has shrunk to about 1,500, mostly on Djerba. Pilgrims from Europe, the US, and beyond still flock here, despite fears after the last deadly suicide bombing in 2002.
Tunisia’s Struggles Amid Security and Economic Crisis
This attack strikes as Tunisia’s tourist industry tries to bounce back from past terror attacks in 2015 and pandemic setbacks. Islamist militancy swelled post-Arab Spring but has faced a crackdown in recent years.
The country’s financial woes have deepened since President Kais Saied took control in 2021, with sweeping constitutional changes weakening parliament and adding political turmoil to the mix.
