2023 Djerba synagogue shooting
On May 9, 2023, Wissam Khazri, a 30-year-old Tunisian National Guard member, killed five people at the El Ghriba Synagogue in Djerba during Lag BaOmer. He first shot a colleague to steal ammunition and then opened fire at a large gathering of Jewish pilgrims near the synagogue. Eight people were injured. Khazri was killed by police shortly after arriving at the scene.
Authorities said the attack was premeditated, but they had not released a motive. The gunman used an automatic weapon and a pistol, and he arrived on a quad bike wearing body armor. The synagogue was locked down as security forces moved in.
El Ghriba is Africa’s oldest synagogue and a major pilgrimage site that draws thousands of Jewish visitors each year. It has faced attacks before, including in 1985 and 2002, and security around the site has been tightened since then.
The victims included three gendarmes and two civilians. The attacker was killed by police about two minutes after his arrival at the scene. Eight others were injured, including both civilians and officers.
Tunisia is home to a small Jewish community, with hundreds living in Djerba and around 1,800 Jews nationwide. The attack led to national outcry and concern about safety at religious sites and during the annual pilgrimage.
President Kais Saied called the shooting a criminal act aimed at harming Tunisia’s tourism, not terrorism, and later met leaders of different faiths to reassure people about safety. The incident drew condemnation from Israel, France, the United States, and other countries, and security for Jewish sites and other places of worship was increased.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:28 (CET).