Three terrorists opened fire on Tuesday evening outside the synagogue in the Jewish community complex in Djerba in Tunisia, while Lag Ba’Omer celebrations were being held there.
The hundreds of Jews who were in the compound locked themselves inside when they heard the shots being fired in the middle of the celebration.
It is believed the terrorists, who arrived at the scene with the goal of carrying out an attack, were eliminated. Local police are investigating whether one of them managed to escape.
According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists disguised themselves as religious Jews.
Israeli officials quoted by Kan 11 News said that shots had been fired at the security guards stationed at the compound. There are no reports of injuries in the incident.
Djerba is home to one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world, and the synagogue is believed to date to the sixth century BCE.
In the past, thousands would flock to the synagogue for the annual Lag Ba”Omer pilgrimage. In 2013, only 1,000 pilgrims visited the synagogue amid security concerns.
Last year, hundreds of worshipers took part in the annual Lag Ba”Omer pilgrimage. This was the first time the celebrations were held since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.