The ancient El Ghriba synagogue in the Tunisian island of Djerba has been left in chaos after gunshots were fired on the island.
Tunisia’s Mosaique FM radio reported that one police officer has been found dead but did not specify if he was close to the religious site.
Videos circulating on social media have shown people standing in the synagogue’s courtyard with sounds of gunshots heard in the background. Hundreds of Jewish worshippers are also in lockdown following the shooting, according to converging reports.
The synagogue is believed to be Africa’s oldest, and draws hundreds of Jewish people to it every year in a pilgrimage that takes place on May 9th.