On Wednesday, the Libyan Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack on a synagogue in the Tunisian city of Djerba.
In a statement, it affirmed its “full solidarity and standing with Tunisia in such attacks.” It pointed out that “such attacks target civil peace, the diversity of the Tunisian people, and the values of coexistence among its citizens.”
The Ministry offered its “sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery for those injured.”
According to Reuters, a Tunisian security officer who was wounded in Tuesday’s shooting outside a synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba has died. This brings the death toll to six, including the shooter.
The attacker, a National Guard member, killed a colleague at a naval installation, then travelled to the synagogue where an annual Jewish pilgrimage was taking place and opened fire on police and visitors before he was shot dead.
Two Jewish cousins, one French and the other Israeli-Tunisian were killed. Along with one police officer who died at the scene, and another in hospital on Wednesday.
Four more police officers were injured, one critically, hospital sources told Reuters, along with four other visitors.
Authorities have not yet outlined a motive, or noted if anybody else was involved in the attack, which is the deadliest in years. The island is a major destination for Tunisia’s vital tourism industry.
The Tourism Minister, Moez Belhassine was visiting the site and Djerba hotels to reassure security.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry described the attack as a “lethal shooting incident”, with a spokesperson saying it was still under investigation.
The United States and France said Tunisian security forces had responded quickly.
Jewish worshippers attending the pilgrimage described a scene of panic after gunshots rang out, as people tried to hide in different rooms of the synagogue.
“People were happy and dancing until we heard a lot of gunfire. Everyone ran away… some hid in my office and others in the other rooms. There was lots of fear,” said Peres Trabelsi, head of Djerba’s Jewish community.