On Tuesday, a Tunisian naval guard made an attempted attack on a synagogue, resulting in the tragic deaths of two security officers and two visitors. Around 10 other individuals were injured during the incident.

The attack took place during a period when numerous Jews undertake their yearly pilgrimage to the island of Djerba, with travelers arriving from Europe and Israel, as reported by Reuters.

The assailant was ultimately neutralized by security guards present at the scene, according to information provided by the Tunisian Interior Ministry.

Investigators are currently continuing their efforts to determine the motive behind the attack, and the identity of the shooter has not yet been disclosed to the public.

Tunisia, once a highly sought-after tourist destination and a catalyst for several pro-democracy uprisings during the Arab Spring, has recently experienced a severe political and economic crisis.

The island of Djerba, where the synagogue is situated, is home to Tunisia’s main Jewish community.

Although it remains unclear whether the victims were pilgrims attending ceremonies at the ancient Ghriba temple, which dates back 2,500 years, the Foreign Ministry confirmed that one of the casualties was French, while the other was Tunisian.

The attacker was identified as having affiliations with the National Guard naval center located in the port town of Aghir, Djerba.

He began the attack by using his weapon to fatally shoot a colleague, then proceeded to seize ammunition and head towards the Ghriba synagogue, according to information from the ministry.

As he approached the temple, he opened fire on security guards who were able to retaliate and kill him before he could reach the entrance.

Following the incident, the synagogue was immediately placed under lockdown, ensuring the safety of those inside and outside while authorities conducted their investigation at the scene.